The Late Katie Farrell It is with great sadness that the people of Allenwood and its hinterland came together to lay to rest in Allen, their very own grand old lady, Mrs Katie Farrell of Derrymullen, who celebrated her 101st birthday shortly before Christmas. A native of Carbury, the redoubtable Katie was one of the few people who as an adult- saw Kildare in action in their last two All-Ireland senior football finals, in 1998 against Galway and 70 years previously when the Lilywhites edged out Cavan by a single point. Down the years football has played a significant part in Katie Farrell's life. Her late husband Peter was a founder member of the Allenwood club while her three sons, wore the Sky Blue jersey. Indeed both Padraig and Tommy were to go to hold the office of club chairman, with Padraig its current president. Katie herself was very proud to be one of its patrons, with members of the club providing a guard of honour at the funeral. When the Grand Canel was in its heyday, Peter had his own barge. Indeed Katie recalled that in 1947, when he family moved from their original home in Lowtown to Derrymullen Bridge, the journey was much shorter by canal than by road. So Katie, Peter and family loaded all their worldly goods into the hold of the boat and made the short hop downstream in one fell swoop. How many women are there in Ireland of today who can say that they moved house by boat? It was one of Katie and her eldest son, Padraig's little jokes that when he became a 'Senior Citizen' just a few years ago, she insisted on accompanying him to the local Post Office on the day in question to 'show him where to get the pension'. Katie and Peter married in 1936, rearing a fine family of three sons and five daughters in Allenwood. Katie Farrell was a really gracious lady, who remained that to the very end, passing away as he had lived, with quiet dignity. She had a very simple, it somewhat contradictory recipe for longevity; an amazing combination of 'hard work and Sweet Afton' of which she smoked around 20 a day for most of her adult life.. To her family and many friends we convey deepest sympathy. Cinnte, ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís; ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam síoraí. Courtesy of the Leinster Leader 30th April 2009 Tweet

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