The late Rose Byrne The sad passing of Rose Byrne, St Cormac's Park, Kilcormac on October 16, 2006, generated mush sadness in Kilcormac and Tullamore, and indeed, a far wider area. Rose, daughter of Peter (Dec) and Kathleen Molyneaux, was born in 1950, and she spent the early years of her life, growing up at the family home in Chapel Street, Tullamore. The Molyneaux's moved to Pearse Park seven years later where life continued for Rose and her sister, Pauline, and brothers Johnny, Pee and Maurice. In 1971, aged 21, Rose made one of the biggest decisions of her life when she married Paddy Byrne in the Church of Assumption. Rose, with some gentle persuasion from her husband of course, decided to leave her native Tullamore and they newly weds settled in Kilcormac. A quiet, unassuming, diligent and down to earth person, Rose was a devoted and dedicated wife, and loving and caring mother to her three daughters Karen, Shirley and Lesly, sons Stephen and Patrick. And in later years, the doting grand-parent of adorable grand-daughter Katie Rose. Her tremendous love of sport and most particularly, her association with the GAA, was fostered over a long number of years as the Molyneaux family played with the Tullamore and Durrow clubs. This link with the GAA was maintained when her eldest son Stephen excelled between the posts, winning an All-Ireland senior hurling medal and All-Star award in 1998 following Offaly's historic back door march to glory. Rose derived immense pleasure and pride from watching her son on the national stage and she was also very proud of her youngest son Patrick who is showing considerable promise and no doubt will carry on the family sporting tradition. Rose had a fantastic positive outlook in life and this did not diminish in the slightest even during her serious illness, one she bore with great dignity and fought against courageously. Her devotion to her faith was unquestionable and it was this faith that prompted Rose to travel to the Holy City of Rome last September, 2006. Accompanied by husband Paddy, sister in law Eileen and Eileen's husband Paul, she visited the chapel of her beloved Saint Therese of Lisieux and the resting place of Pope John Paul II. Rose possessed a tremendous zest for life and one of her greatest gifts was the ability to understand and listen to other people. She was a generous and caring person, a helpful and obliging neighbour, with a big heart, and during her short life, she left a timeless legacy and treasured memories for all who were privileged to know and meet her. The enormous respect and high esteem in which Rose was held in the massive gathering of mourners at her funeral in Kilcormac. Following requiem mass, Rose was laid to rest in St Joseph's Cemetery. Rose will be sadly missed by her family, relatives and a vast circle of neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace. Courtesy of The Offaly Express 15 November 2006 Tweet

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