‘Gentleman’Owenwasagreatfamily manwhoenjoyedsimplethingsinlife
THE death has taken place, at the age of 77, of Owen Byrne, 50, Dowdallshill, Dundalk. He passed away peacefully in Beaumount Hospital on 18 July, 2017.
Owen hailed from Milltown in Kilkerley, son of Brigid and Christopher Byrne. He attended Kilkerley N.S. and played football for many years with Kilkerley Emmets and was also a member of Channonrock A.C. in his youth.
After moving to Dowdallshill, Owen played for a number of years with Dowdallshill GAA club.
He went to the Technical College in Chapel St. and then served his time as a builder with Mickey Murphy, Milltown, Kilkerley. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked in Dublin for some years.
He decided ‘ to go out on his own’, and in the early 1960’s he set up his own business, Owen Byrne Construction. A hardworking and honest man, he had a good way with people and built up a very successful business over the years.
He built many private houses etc and also completed a lot of projects for Louth Co. Council and Dundalk Town Council. Even after retirement, Owen always maintained an interest in local building projects.
He met his wife Moya Burns (Thistle Cross) at a dance in Mountpleasant Hall and after marrying they settled in Dowdallshill.
Owen and Moya had many happy years together and they particularly enjoyed their hobby of ‘old time dancing’ which took them winter and summer to venues in Kilcurry, Readypenny, Inniskeen and Magheracloone, to name a few.
Described as a ‘gentleman’ by many, Owen enjoyed the simple things in life. A mild-mannered and quiet man, he was always active and indeed was swimming six days a week up until his illness prevented him from doing so.
He went to Tojo’s Gym on the Castletown Road for years in the 1980’s, and enjoyed walking and some golf.
He always had a great interest in football, going to most of the Kilkerley and Louth matches over the years, and was a keen follower of soccer too. Owen enjoyed travelling and was a devoted family man. He took his family on holidays down the country every year and later enjoyed travelling to foreign countries.
He enjoyed socialising, keeping up his interest in social dancing and enjoyed many years of trips abroad and dancing with his partner and friend, Bridie Duffy. They looked forward to the biannual dancing trips, as well as their weekly dancing outings.
Owen was a thoughtful and kind man, often visiting relatives and friends who were elderly or sick.
He had great ‘get up and go’ and dealt with life’s knocks with a great strength of character and mind. A religious person, he went to mass weekly and attended St. Gerard’s novena.
He always had time for his children, and they could count on him to offer wise words of wisdom when needed. He had a great interest in his eight grandchildren and took pride in their achievements.
Sadly, Owen’s health deteriorated this year but he bore his illness with his usual fortitude and resilience. He was predeceased by his brother, Paddy in 1978, his son, Eamonn in 1982 and by his wife Moya in 2000.
He is sadly missed and remembered with love by his sons, Paul and Ronan; daughter, Lynne; sister, Mary McKee (Keady); brother, Mickey; son-in-law, Austin; daughter-in-law Kathleen; grandchildren Seán, Conor, Ciarán, Niamh, Ronan, Kate, James and Liam; relatives, neighbours and friends.
Owen was greatly respected and the high esteem in which he was held was evident in the large numbers who attended his wake.
He reposed at his home before his remains were removed to St. Nicholas’ church. Fr. Brian Slater CC celebrated Requiem Mass and gave the eulogy. The Readings were given by his grandsons, Seán and Conor Byrne; while the Prayers of the Faithful were read by his granddaughters, Niamh Byrne and Kate Rice; and by family friend Eimear Conyard.
The Offertory gifts were presented by his daughter, Lynne; sons, Paul and Ronan; and grandson Ronan. These included a trowel representing his work, swimming goggles, a dancing trophy and a Louth jersey. Susan Dixon sang beautifully at the mass.
Burial took place in St. Patrick’s cemetery, Dowdallshill, with Kilkerley Emmets forming a Guard of Honour for Owen.