The Late Joe Gill

Profound sadness and sorrow was occasioned throughout the communities of Barnacarroll, Claremorris, Kiltimagh and Knock by the recent death of Joe Gill, Murneen. He was aged 44 and died following a four month illness. Joe was closely associated with GAA soccer and athletics and was very well liked and respected in his home region.
A young man of quiet and unassuming nature, Joe always had a pleasant and kind word for everyone. There was a mildness to his manner that endeared him to so many. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word.
Joe was one of a family of three born to John and Mary Teresa Gill, the others being his brother Gerard and sister Carmel. Music was an integral part of the Gill household, his dad played the accordion and keyboards while two of his uncles, Frank and Vincent, were members of the famous Royal Blues Showband.
Joe attended Murneen National School and later St Colman's College where he enjoyed various sports, winning the overall sports, winning the overall sports prize for various disciplines during his second year in the college.
His love of sport never deserted him and he followed GAA, soccer and athletics with huge interest. Liverpool were his adopted team when it came to English soccer. He trained the Knock-Kiltimagh United U-12 squad for a number of seasons and was delighted to see his sons win honours in both codes. Sean, the oldest of the family, was a member of the Claremorris GAA U-16 team that won the Mayo A title this summer.
For a time after finishing in Colman's, he worked on th FAS scheme in Knock. He later secured a job at Knock Pottery, based in Murneen old school, where he spent a good many years. The past number of years saw Joe employed by McGann's Plaster Moulding in Mace where he was an exemplary employee. Joe was a wonderful time-keeper, always arriving for work and for meetings well before the appointed time.
He married Ann Flatley from Lecarrow, Knock and the raised a family of four sons, Sean, Jamie, Colin and Stephen.He was a devoted husband and father who took a huge interest in their lives and encouraged them to take a keen interest in sport at every opportunity.
There was a gentleness about Joe that radiated from his presence. He was never one to seek the limelight, but was always there to lend help and support in a quiet and reassuring fashion.
When news broke of his illness back in July, all of us who knew him and his family were deeply touched by the poignancy of the situation. These was salt-of-the-earth people whose sense of decency and integrity were the hallmarks of their families down the generations.
After battling his illness with characteristic courage and bravery, he died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family. The hearts of all in the community went out to Ann and the family and to his parents, brother and sister and the extended family circle.
Hundreds braved the cold, wind and rain outside barnacarroll Church for the funeral mass. The church had been packed to capacity nearly half and hour before the start of the Requiem Mass. It was and eloquent and moving tribute to a young man who, in his own quiet way, impacted on the lives of so many people.
Fr Colm Burke was the chief celebrant a the Mass and he was assisted by Fr Tommy Commins and Fr Dan O'Mahony. A number of clubs and groups formed a large guard of honour as a mark of respect to their departed colleague and friend.
At the end of the Mass, Joe's sister Carmel, who resides with her husband Chris in Phildephia, delivered a beautiful eulogy which captured so much of the life and times of her brother and the wonderful memories she had of growing up with Joseph in Murneen and Mayo.
Joe is deeply regretted by his wife, Ann and family, Sean, Jamie, Colin and Stephen, parents John and Mary Teresa; brother, Gerard; sister, Carmel, mother-in-law, Bridie Flatley; in-laws; nephews and nieces, uncles and aunts; relatives, neighbours and friends.

Courtesy of the Mayo News
December 8th 2009 Tweet

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