Stamullen
GAYBO HOWARD, IN MEMORY
Complete shock and a stunned silence was the reaction to the news that Gabriel, alias Gaybo, Howard of Stedalt and the Stamullen Road Cycling Club had had passed away following a tragic accident that occurred at a local farmyard in the parish of his beloved Stamullen on Friday February 9th last.
Gaybo was an instrumental part of the local community in Stamullen and not just within the cycling world, but with all community issues and, when something needed to be done, he became a tower of strength, coming to the front and always spearheading whatever needed to be done; there was little if indeed anything that was beyond him when it came to helping out.
I have vivid memories of Gabriel Howard from years and years ago when he, along with another great cycling local, T.P. (Tomsh) Reilly were employed locally by the late Paddy Whyte of Stamullen village.
When the potato store opened in Stamullen there was always great seasonal work to be had there from September until the close of October, often longer and of course it was always Gaybo Howard that you would approach for the job and particularly for the over-time in the evenings and on a Saturday.
If you could ride a bike he was constantly in your ear to join `our-club`. A number of us youths in Stamullen village did join the cycling club and some went on to have great success at this often gruelling sport.
Of Course Gaybo, being always full of encouragement, would set up weekly league races and, using the handicap system, he would quickly work out who was faster than others.
His intent on numerous occasions was to keep the encouragement going, making each cyclist feel that they were the best and so you would continue, albeit in a useless pathetic fashion and often on a bicycle that was indeed heavier than the youth that would be riding it, but no matter, I do believe that all who joined the club during that mid 1970`s period, received some kind of medal, plaque, trophy etc.
As an ordinary friend and neighbour and away from the cycling, Gabriel Howard was full of craic, fun, jokes, tall tales and short stories; a real Seanchaí, a great story-teller and a character with a huge heart and an understanding of both community and family issues and a fantastic knack in dealing and responding to those issues.
Only recently I had been researching through some old Drogheda Independent newspapers for something when I came across a photograph of a recently married couple with the photo titled `Meath Sportsman Weds`.
It was Gabriel Howard and his wife Kathleen (Kay, nee McDonnell), emerging from St. Canice`s Church at Damastown Naul after the loving couple had `tied the knot`.
Ironically, as the newly wedded couple came out of the Church, they walked under a possession of cycling tyres which were being held over the couple`s heads.
Kay was not only Gaybo`s wife, she was also the mother to their three loving children Siobhan, Seamus and Sinead and she was Gaybo`s partner and best friend for life; a life that ended so tragically and so suddenly on Friday February 9th 2018; 48 years after this loving and well-loved couple emerged from the the Church of St. Canice in Damastown Naul.
Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife, partner and best friend Kay (pictured with Gay,above) and to his children, grandchildren and extended family.