The Late Ned Reilly The first day of 2004 was a sad day in this county as it marked the passing of one of Longford's most beloved citizens - Ned "The County" Reilly. Aged eighty years, Mr Reilly passed away following a short illness on New Year's Day in St Joseph's hospital, Longford. His passing was greeted with much sadness throughout the entire region as people from all walks of life recalled a man who had worked tirelessly for numerous different organisations in his lifetime. Huge crowds turned up for the removal and funeral which took place in Edgeworthstown over the weekend and hundreds followed his final journey from St Mary's Church in Edgeworthstown to Aughafin Cemetery on Saturday afternoon led by a lone piper. The route was lined by members of Fianna Fail who paid their respects to their Honoury President, a man who their had been one of the longest serving Fianna Fail officials in the country. Former Taoiseach and life-long friend Albert Reynolds gave a heartfelt oration by the graveside of the man who had first persuaded him to enter into politics over 25 years ago. In the crowd Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen joined a host of local councillors and Fianna Fail members from all over the country including local TD Peter Kelly to remember the man who had for 25 years been Chairman of the comhairle Dail Ceanntair in Longford. The current chairman of Bord na gCon was also in attendance as were members of the Board with whom Mr Reilly served with distinction for eight years. The previous night the Taoiseach's Aides-de-Camp was among the hundreds of mourners who attended his removal to sympathise with Mr Reilly's wife and family on the passing of this much-loved Longford son. A native of Cloghernal, Granard, Mr Reilly devoted his energies to a host of organisations who benefited greatly from his talents and skills during his lifetime. A Mullinalaghta stalwart who dominated many centrefield exchanges over the years, he won no fewer than two senior championship medals, 1948 and 1950, as well as five leader Cup medals with the North Longford side. He was an integral member of the team during the halcyon days at the club, days which he recalled with great fondness when interviewed in the Leader six years ago. "I think my footballing days are well and truly over at this stage," the 74-year-old said back then, "but the late '40s and '50s were wonderful times for anyone with an interest in the GAA in Mullinalaghta." It is widely regarded that the name "The County" came from Mr Reilly's footballing days but in fact the name was inherited from his grandfather who was also called Ned. He worked as a psychiatric nurse for 33 years in St Loman's hospital in Mullingar until his retirement in 1983. He also played football with distinction at St Loman's and went on to become President of the club there. He also served as President of his adopted GAA club, Mostrim, where he worked tirelessly for many years. He was a highly regarded referee and GAA administrator and once referred in Croke Park. It was while working in St Loman's that he met his wife Marie, who was from Cranley in Edgeworthstown. The couple married and settled on his wife's family farm in Cranley and went on to have five children - Marian, Claire, Sean, Eamonn and Olive. Tragedy struck the family twenty years ago when their youngest daughter Olive was killed at just 18 years of age while crossing the road after getting off a school bus. "The terribly accident left an indelible mark on the family and prompted Mr Reilly's retirement from St Loman's. He was always known to be immensely proud of his county as well as his own parish in Edgeworthstown. Such was his pride in the Cranley area that the name was to become synonymous with another love in Mr. Reilly's life - greyhound racing. He was a greyhound owner and trainer for over fifty years and many of his championship dogs bore the name Cranley. As in so many other aspect of his life Mr Reilly was not merely a bystander when it came to greyhound racing but he was actually a key figure in the rejuvenation of the entire industry. His role in this was highlighted by Albert Reynolds who told mourners at his funeral of how the Edgeworthstown man had approached him after he was appointed Minister for Finance to tell him the delegation from the greyhound industry wanted to meet him. "It's not for a chat they're going to you, " Mr Reilly told the newly appointed Minister, "they're looking for money." That meeting heralded a new era for the flagging industry which has seen unprecedented growth since. He was a member of Bord na gCon for eight years as well as chairman of he Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association for twenty years. He was given a hall of fame award by Bord na gCon in 2002 in recognition of his dedication to the industry. On a local level he carried out trojan work for the Longford Greyhound Committee with who he was Chairman. However Mr Reilly was widely known throughout the country as Albert Reynold's right hand man - the man who persuaded the one-time dancehall owner to enter the political fray and embark on a journey that would lead him to the highest office in the country. Mr Reilly once said that he did not join Fianna Fail but was born into it. He served the party with distinction for over sixty years and held his first official position, that as Secretary of Carra Fianna Fail Cumann, at the tender age of 16. He was Chairman of Ballinalee Comhairle Ceanntair and also Chairman of the Comhairle Dail Ceanntair for 25 years. He was highly respected in political circles and although he was dedicated to his 'native' party, he was known as an independent thinker who was not confined by party politics. It was he, along with Michael Doherty, who convinced Albert Reynolds to run for office in the late '70s and he was a key member of Mr Reynolds' grassroots team throughout his tenure in politics. His unswerving support of Mr Reynolds meant that he felt the swings and arrows of outrageous political fortune as acutely as the former Taoiseach did. As well as being a dedicated political activist, Mr Reilly was also a hard working member of the local community and he was deeply involved in the local St Vincent de Paul organisation. Every organisation that he worked with reaped tremendous rewards from his involvement, which was never less than 100%, and he gave the same devotion to his wife and family, of whom he was immensely proud. Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Maire, children Marian, Claire, Sean and Eamonn, brothers, sisters, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Everyone who met him was better for having known Mr Reilly, a man described by Albert Reynolds as "super-special". While there is widespread regret at the passing away of this legendary character, there is also great pride and admiration in the legacy left behind by "The County". Courtesy of the Longford Leader, January, 2004. Tweet

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