OBITUARY: former county star Ned Mann

Image 2 of 2
The Westmeath Senior Football team of 1949. The late Ned Mann is third from right (the last player) in the back row.

Published: Mon 5 Oct 2020, 3:59 PM

Last updated: Mon 5 Oct 2020, 4:01 PM

One of Westmeath’s most senior citizens, and one of the county’s greatest sportsmen, Edward (Ned) Mann, of Catherinestown, Gaybrook, Mullingar, passed to his eternal rest on Monday of last week, September 28.

Had he lived to the end of next month, Ned, a retired psychiatric nurse, would have celebrated his 100th birthday.

A native of Drumraney, where his family ran a grocery shop, Ned was in his day, a footballer of some note. He won his first county junior final in 1935 with his native Drumraney; he was the captain of the St Loman’s SFC-winning team of 1948 (which at that time went as ‘Mental Hospital’), and a member of the Westmeath Senior Football for a decade.

A highlight of that time was qualification for the 1949 Leinster Senior Football Championship final, and Ned, as a member of the squad, played a key role in the journey to Croke Park.

This was only the second time (1931 had been the first) that a Lake County team appeared in the Leinster SFC final, and it was to be another 55 years before they did so again, famously winning the Delaney Cup under the tutelage of the late Páidí Ó Sé in 2004.

Ned continued to have a sharp mind right to the end, and was up to date with the St Loman’s team’s fortunes and their success in last Sunday’s Senior County Final, the day before he passed away.

A man who gave generously of his time to his community, Ned Mann was a member of the bingo committee at St Loman’s, and was one of the team that both conceived and constructed the original grotto to the honour of the Blessed Virgin at St Loman’s hospital.

Those who worked with him in St Loman’s remember him as a father figure, as caring and a source of sound advice. He always had a kind word for new members of staff.

When he retired in 1982, Ned spent a lot of time farming and was regularly seen at the local marts where he prided himself on being a good judge of cattle.

Ned, who had been predeceased by his wife Una, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, at Newbrook Nursing Home, Mullingar.

He is survived by his daughters Mena and Pauline (Nally); his son Dermot; his grandchildren Maria, Ciara, David and Louise; his sister Nancy (Moore); his brothers Tom and Joe; son-in-law Martin; daughter-in-law Margaret; brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Following current HSE and government guidelines a family funeral Mass took place on Wednesday last, September 30, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar.