The late Annie Henry The death of Annie Henry of Cappagh, Tooreen, marked the end of an era in the village. She was predeceased by her husband Austin nine months earlier. Both were synonymous with life in Tooreen over the decades and it's hard to believe that both have now departed this earth. Annie was formerly Finn from nearby Grothaganny in Co Roscommon. Growing up in what was the very rural culture of the time, she acquired a great acknowledge of the handed down traditions of the area. It was the era of the storyteller where local legends were passed on through verse and other forms which lent themselves to memory. Annie and Austin were regulars at hurling matches involving Tooreen and Mayo teams down through the years. The family were synonymous with hurling in Mayo and to this day are probably still regarded as Mayo's best known indigenous hurling family countrywide among hurling aficionados. The family have been associated with Tooreen hurling club since its inception 50 years ago. For quite a number of years in the early stages, Annie took charge of cleaning the jerseys, washing them by hand and thus ensuring that the team always looked well when they lined out in the blue and white. She had a great love for the game and was delighted to see Tony, Joe and Vincent enjoy such unprecedented success in the club colours. All three sported the red and green of Mayo on numerous occasions too, something that was always close to her heart. She and her husband were almost always together at the matches and this was the case right up to very recent times. Annie had a genial interest in various sports and while hurling and gaelic football may have taken precedence, she also loved to watch rugby, snooker an racing. Indeed, she was an avid racing follower and among the first pages she turned to in the daily newspapers were the racing pages. She enjoyed some regular 'flutters' on the horses and was quite an expert at placing some well chosen bets. Cheltenham and Galway were among her favourite racing festivals and she watched the sport with great interest on television. When it came to football, she retained a special allegiance to her native Roscommon and was always proud to fly the primrose and blue. Only last October 2006, she was delighted to see Roscommon final replay against Kerry. Annie played a major role in the development of the family's garden an nurseries business. Her valuable knowledge of the land and the soil was always welcome and she loved helping out in the glass-houses, always ensuring that everything was in its proper place. She was most content when she was busy and occupied. Over the years, she took hundreds of phone calls in relation to sporting matters and the family business. At all times, she excelled with her natural and easy communication skills, always putting callers at their ease and being of the utmost assistance at all times. A very spiritual lady, Annie had an unshakable faith in the power of prayer. She was blessed with the gift of acceptance and was content to accept God's will in all things. She had a a special devotion to Our Lady of Knock an loved to visit the Shrine on a regular basis. She was also a great supporter of her local church in Tooreen. Annie died peacefully in the family home in Cappagh where she was well cared for by her devoted family. A gentle, kind and gracious lady, she had lived a good and rewarding life and was content and at peace during the sunset years of her life. A special chapter in the history of Cappagh has closed with the passing of both Annie and Austin. Removal took place from Donnellan's Funeral Home in Ballyhaunis to Tooreen Church with burial in Aghmore Cemetery following Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Paddy Sheridan. In his homily, Fr Paddy spoke fondly on Annie's contribution to the life of the Tooreen region and her great fondness and love of her family and community and sport. She is deeply regretted by her family, Michael, Mary, Breege, jimmy, Tony, Lillian, Dolores, Joe and Vincent, in-laws, grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends. - MC Courtesy of the Mayo News 21 March 2007 Tweet

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