Sadness at death of one of County Roscommon’s oldest citizens in her 102nd year – News – Roscommon Herald

The death occurred on Thursday last, peacefully in her 102nd year, in the tender care of her family under the guidance of the community palliative care team of Mrs Mary (Mae) Gannon, (née O’Neill), Knockroe, Castlerea.

She was predeceased by her husband Phil and son Eamonn. Mae will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her sons Denis (Dublin), Philip (Australia), Raymond (Dublin), Padraig (Wexford), and Michael (Castlerea); brother Jimmy (Galway); daughters-in-law, Kathy, Mae, Aine, Theresa and Marie; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Mae moved to Castlerea from her native Abbeyknockmoy more than seventy years ago.

Before she came to Castlerea, where she met her late husband, Phil Gannon, Mae O’Neill grew up on a typical farm in Galway where she helped out with the duties required, including saving the hay and the turf.

One of eleven siblings, seven boys and four girls, Mae trained as a nurse in Ballinasloe and thought nothing of cycling the 60-mile round trip to her place of work every day. When her nursing career brought her to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Castlerea, the 70-mile cycle journey to and from her Galway home also became a regular one.

She met her husband and prominent GAA figure, Phil at a dance in Castlerea and after love blossomed they married on October 26th, 1950. Their special day was part of a double wedding where Phil’s sister, Kathleen got married to Tony Raftery from Galway. The reception was held in the Savoy Ballroom on Main Street, where Kearney’s Pharmacy is now located.

After their marriage, Phil and Mae had six boys, Denis being the eldest, then Philip, and Raymond, twins Padraic and Eamon, and the youngest Michael. Raymond and Denis live in Dublin, Padraic is in Wexford, Philip resides in Australia and Michael lives in Castlerea.

Tragically Eamon, who was just 21 years of age at the time, was killed in an accident on December 4th, 1979, which left Phil and Mae and the Gannon family devastated.

The GAA played a huge part in the lives of Mae and Phil. Phil was heavily involved with the Castlerea St. Kevin’s GAA Club and Roscommon GAA County Board. He served as county board secretary for 25 years up to his untimely death in September 1984 at the age of 65. Up to his passing, he also worked in Hayes’ Pharmacy for 43 years.

For many years, Mae was an active member of Castlerea St. Kevin’s ladies committee and washed jerseys on the line were a familiar sight at the Gannon home in Knockroe. She also loved a game of cards and, up to recent years was a regular player at the O’Rourke GAA Centre.

She had a number of other interests and was involved in Castlerea Musical Society, making costumes. She applied these skills as well to making vestments for the church.

Mae will be reposing at Gaynor’s Funeral Home, Castlerea, this Sunday evening, June 16th from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.. Funeral will arrive at St. Patrick’s Church, Castlerea, for Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. on Monday (17th), burial afterwards in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.