Westmeath in mourning for the late Ned Flynn

They’re talking about the end of an era in the UK this morning with the death of Prince Philip, but Friday April 9, 2021, is certainly the end of an era in Westmeath, with the news that well-known Castlepollard personality, GAA volunteer and witty raconteur Ned Flynn has gone to his eternal reward.

The Castletown-Finea native, renowned beyond the borders of Westmeath for possessing the “gift of the gab” and for his passion for Gaelic games – particularly with regard to the development of underage players and teams – died after a long battle with ill health.

A former chairman and secretary of Westmeath GAA’s minor board, Ned is remembered for working alongside prominent Westmeath Gaels like PJ Fulham, Liam Martin and the late Denis Coyne to shore up the county’s underage structures, efforts which would bear ample fruit in the 1990s and 2000s.

A son of Stephen and Kathleen Flynn, Tullyhill, Castletown-Finea, Ned went to national school in Castletown and later studied at the vocational school in Castlepollard under principal Kevin O’Reilly.

A football man first and foremost, he became assistant secretary of his beloved Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall at just 17 years of age, and has worked tirelessly for the club ever since, keeping underage football alive in a large area of north Westmeath for decades.

He caught the hurling bug after moving to Castlepollard in his late teens to work in Paddy Kearney’s pub, and became heavily involved with the local hurling club, serving as its chairman for a time. For his work with both CFCW and Castlepollard and in the development of underage Gaelic games at club and county level, he was presented with a GAA President’s Award by then Uachtarán CLG, Aogán Ó Fearghaíl in 2016.

For 21 years, Ned worked behind the bar at McCormack’s pub, Castlepollard, but he will be known to more people in Westmeath for his work as a GAA commentator and analyst with Midlands 103, where his unrivalled wit shone through. In later years, he worked as a supervisor with the Community Employment Scheme in Coole.

Gifted with a razor sharp intellect, he was for many years the go-to quizmaster in north Westmeath, setting the questions and delivering them in his own inimitable style. He was also deeply involved with Macra na Feirme activities over the decades.

The late Ned Flynn was a man of many talents, and his beloved north Westmeath all the poorer for his regretted passing.

Tributes

On its Facebook page this morning, Westmeath GAA paid tribute to Ned, describing him as a “fountain of knowledge and a man of fantastic wit”, and thanking him for his “outstanding service to his county”.

“As a County Board Delegate he was unique, a competent debater who could mix humour with genius,” the post said.

“All at Westmeath GAA would like to send our sincerest condolences to all his family, relatives & friends.”

Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall GAA has described Ned as “a gifted coach” and “the backbone and the heartbeat of the club”.

“He strove to promote underage [GAA] in schools and earliest memories of meeting Ned were his visits to our local schools promoting the GAA,” the club’s Facebook post this morning said.

“He has positively influenced virtually every underage player to play with CFCW for almost 50 years.”

Meanwhile, Castlepollard Hurling Club took to social media, describing Friday April 9 as “a dark day”.

“Words just cannot do justice to describe the legacy that Ned has left behind,” the club stated on Facebook, adding that he had “an unbelievable influence on so much young hurlers and footballers for generations in our community”.

Ned’s funeral will take place in Castlepollard this Sunday, with removal to St Michael’s Church, Castlepollard via Whitehall on Saturday, subject to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.