Late Ned Timlin held in very high regard

One of the best-known faces in Mullingar business life for many decades was Ned Timlin of Lynn Road in Mullingar, whose death occurred on Friday last, June 24.

Mr Timlin, who was in his 85th year, died in the care of the staff of Portiuncula Nursing Home, Multyfarnham. His funeral Mass is to take place at 11am this Friday, July 1, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar, with burial afterwards at Ballyglass Cemetery.

A native of St Mel’s Road, Longford, Mr Timlin was educated at CBS in Kells and then the prestigious Blackrock College, Dublin.

In 1955, straight after completing his Leaving Certificate, he took up a position with the Bank of Ireland, and after studying at night, he obtained a degree in Commerce from UCD.

Over the course of the succeeding years he held several important positions with the bank, including that of audit manager within the bank’s internal audit department.

In 1977 Ned was appointed manager of the Bank of Ireland in Castlerea, County Roscommon, and in 1982, he came to Mullingar as manager of the Bank of Ireland branch at Pearse Street, accompanied by his wife Catherine and their three children.

Ned quickly settled in to Mullingar, engaging himself in the business, cultural, sporting and social life of the town.

His assimilation came easily as he was a man who was liked by all, being very much a people person. He was genuine, sincere, considerate and courteous, and at the same time, he had a great sense of humour that helped put people at ease in his company.

Ned gave generously of his time to several local organisations: he was chairperson of the Mullingar Employment Action Group, which in 1988 began the process of opening the enterprise centre on Bishops Gate Street to provide incubator units for fledgling businesses; he held the position of president of the Lions Club in Mullingar; he also provided assistance to the sisters running Ballinderry Hospital, and he was a dedicated member of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, spending some time at the helm of that body as president.

Golf was a passion of Ned’s, and he was a committed member of Mullingar Golf Club. He was also an avid rugby fan, playing while at school, and later serving as treasurer of Corinthians RFC in Galway while working there.

Ned retired from the bank in 1995 – but was retained for another five years in a specialist role, retiring fully in 2000.

Aside from the bank, another business with which he was associated was Tyrrellspass Castle: he was part of a syndicate which acquired the premises in the 1990s.

Above all else, family and faith were important to Ned, and he delighted in his five grandchildren.

Sadly, at the beginning of this year, Ned’s health declined significantly, and he became a resident of Portiuncula Nursing Home.

He is survived by his best friend of 50 years, his wife Catherine; his son, Martin (Australia) and daughters Ciara Myers (Australia) and Cathy Curran (Dublin); his five granddaughters; his brothers Neal and Roger; his sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, and other relatives, and is also mourned by many friends and former bank colleagues.