The late Gertie Houlahan The death has taken place of Armagh lady Mrs Gertie Houlahan who would have celebrated her 91st birthday in January 2007. A daughter of Frank and Jane McVeigh from the Granemore area she moved to Armagh in her younger life and resided at Ogle Street. She married into a well known Houlahan family from the city and after living in Banbrook for some years returned to reside in Ogle Street. Her husband Pat Houlahan was a well known barber in the Shambles area and also a noted Gaelic Footballer. Predeceased by her husband and son Brian, Gertie is survived by her four other sons John in Kent, Frankie who lives in America and Pat and Maurice who both reside in Armagh; also her only daughter Mrs Mary McKeown whom she had lived with at Convent Close, Armagh for the past ten years. Gertie had a long and meaningful life and was always a great friend and neighbour. She spent most of her years in Ogle Street and it was only but fitting that her funeral cortege should pass her former home on it's way from St Malachy's Church where Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr John Gates to St Patrick's Cemetery. Gertie was a great lover of all things Irish. She was a talented Irish dancer and a camogie player and a loyal supporter of the Harps GAC which was reformed in 1946 with the help of her brother-in-law, the legendary Armagh goalkeeper Joe Houlahan. Gertie also enjoyed music and singing and her son John is a well known tenor. She was an exemplary wife and mother, one of the old stock and in her later years she enjoyed nothing better than being surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. The Houlahans have always been a closely knit family and when Gerite celebrated her 90th birthday last January it occasioned a merry gathering of the clan. Her death took place just a day after the death of Roisin Houlahan: they were married to two brothers. Roisin (nee Campbell), aged in her 80s was married to George (Twit) Houlahan who was a noted comedian in his day. The family home was in Edward Street. In her younger life Gertie worked in the school meals department in the Christian Brothers School in Greenpark. She was a devout Catholic and brought her family on the same and in keeping with her true Christian principles was kind, generous and understanding. When the Houlahans lived in Branbrook, Pat and Gertie were the caretakers of the old Branbrook School. Their home was just beneath it. Gertie was the last surviving member of the McVeigh family and her passing has been widely mourned in Armagh and Granemore. She will be remembered with fondness, affection and respect. Courtesy of The Armagh Observer 16 November 2006 Tweet

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