The Late Neil (Nelly) Devine

On Wednesday evening, we received the shocking news of the untimely passing of one of our former and popular members, Neil (Nelly) Devine. Nelly was a talented footballer in an era where many talented footballers populated the Mullingar Shamrocks ranks (The 1984 Under-21 team was perhaps the most talented team of all). He was a member of the only St Mary’s CBS team to win a Leinster A football title. That was in 1983 and the following year he captained the Westmeath team that was narrowly defeated (0-12 to 1-6) by a Dublin team that went on to win the All-Ireland title. This was the Dublin team of Jim Stymes, who until last Sunday, held the record for playing more Aussie Rules football matches than any other Irish footballer.

Nelly played football for Mullingar Shamrocks for several years and as a panelist won 4 county senior football medals in 1986, 1987, 1992 and 1993 as well as numerous underage titles. After moving to Tyrrellspass on his marriage to Siobhan Arthur, a member of a great Tyrrellspass GAA family, Nelly became an active member of the Tyrrellspass club and his sons Mark and Mikey inherited the quality football genes and wore the blue colours with distinction.

The executive and members of Mullingar Shamrocks extend deepest sympathy to Neil’s wife Siobhan, his sons Mark and Mikey, mother-in-law Marge, sister Liz, brother Michael (who also represented Shamrocks with distinction), brothers-in-law Paddy, Bernard, Shane and Joe, and to the members of his extended family.

Neil reposes this evening (4.00-8.00 pm) at his residence in Newcastle, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath (N91 RR58); Neil’s funeral mass takes place on Saturday morning (15 July) in St. Stephen's Church, Tyrrellspass at 11.00 am followed by burial in the local cemetery.

Ar Dheis Dé go Raibh a Anam.