Sudden death of Dympna Reilly stuns all who knew her

A daughter of Dympna and the late Micheal Reilly, Kilsarn, Loughduff, she died suddenly on Wednesday January 24 at her home in Dublin.

She is survived by her mother Dympna, her sisters Sheila and Rosaleen and her brother William, her boyfriend of 10 years Barry Coyle, Dympna Senior’s partner Barry, her much adored nephew Cillian and niece and goddaughter Rhona, her brothers-in-law Ross and Jim, William’s partner Joyce, her aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and a wide circle of friends.

A past pupil of Mullahoran NS and Cavan Vocational School, she studied English and History at NUI Galway before moving to Dublin. Her passing has not only devastated her family and friends, but also her colleagues in the library service in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, and in particular in Cabinteely Library where she was based.

Dympna was a renowned rounders player who had been involved in the sport for over 30 years.

A five time All-Star winner, she devoted endless time and energy to coaching both children and adults in the sport and sharing her love of the sport.

She was one of the pillars of the Erne Eagles Club in Mullahoran and just last week was sending out texts to parents to let them know that training was starting up once again. Her heartbroken teammates formed a guard of honour at her funeral on Sunday.

She was very proud of the fact that she had played two exhibition games in Croke Park at All Ireland Semi Finals. A minute’s silence was held before Cavan’s match against Clare on Saturday in recognition of her contribution to the GAA.

Members of the rounders family from across Ireland were among the crowds that attended her mother’s home on Saturday and her funeral on Sunday.

Also in attendance were her many friends from the trade union IMPACT where she was a long-time member and a vociferous and forceful advocate for workers’ rights.

She loved music and books and had a special love of poetry, especially the works of Patrick Kavanagh. She also had a keen interest in nature and the outdoors and spent many long hours trekking with her beloved Barry Coyle.

A warm, bright, bubbly woman, she had a sparkling personality that brightened up every occasion and if you met her, you would not forget her.

Large crowds attended the home of her mother in Redhills on Saturday where Dymnpna’s remains reposed until her Funeral Mass in St Joseph’s Church Loughduff on Sunday which was concelebrated by Fr Owen Devaney, Fr Seamus McKeown, Fr Bart Nannery and Fr Jason Murphy.

After Mass, her remains were taken to Lakelands Crematorium where her life was celebrated with poetry and song.

Her ashes were buried in Loughduff graveyard on Monday in a service performed by her much loved uncle Fr Ciaran McGuinness.