*Pat Fitzpatrick (RIP), Des Neylon (RIP) and Cllr Pat Daly.
HUGE CROWDS attended the funeral of Ennis’ Des Neylon at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday.
Guards of honour were provided by Ennis Golf Club and Éire Óg GAA Club, two organisations that Des had a long and proud involvement with.
He worked with SBS in Shannon for many years and also served as manager of Quick Lock in Shannon before commencing employment with the Department of Social Welfare where he was based in Ennis.
Noted as a very popular member of the community, Des died peacefully in his home at Gallows Hill on Wednesday last.
Formerly a captain of Ennis Golf Club, he was a long-standing member of the club.
With Éire Óg, he served in a multitude of roles, on the pitch, the sideline and at committee level. He won championships at minor, U21 and junior but the highlight was winning a senior championship in 1966 at corner back against Whitegate. When his playing days ended, Des volunteered as a trainer of all teams and spent time as Chairman, Secretary and President.
In the political circles, Des was a member of Fianna Fáil and had been a keen supporter of Cllr Pat Daly (FF) with whom he was a long-time friend.
At Monday’s mass, his daughter Carole read a poem written by his former colleague Jim Collins. It included the line, ‘He loved the gals, straight whiskey, had a grá for Fianna Fáil, T’was said he should have had one shot at running for the Dáil, But in Gleesons and the Gallows you’ll still hear a loud refrain, Fill a pint for Dessie, he knew how to play the game’.
His wife Margaret died in January of last year and had been heavily involved in groups such as Ennis Tidy Towns, Ennis Community Employment Scheme, Ennis Chamber and Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board.
Des is survived by his loving children Carole, Thomas and Hilary, sons in law David Frawley and Richard Kelly, daughter in law Aisling, sisters Marie Molony and Ann Ferrigan, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, grandchildren Donnacha, Ciara, Emily, Alannah, Aoibheann, Oisin, Sam and Saoirse, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, family and friends.
