Many people throughout Co. Wexford were saddened to learn of the death of William (Willie) Neville last weekend. Willie, of Richmond, Spawell Road, Wexford, passed away last Friday, aged 89. A highly respected figure, he was well known for his involvement in the building industry as founder of the successful family run company, William Neville & Sons Construction Ltd. The only child of William and Mary Neville, Willie was born in Carrig-on-Bannow. He married a Bannow woman, Catherine Roche, in 1948 and the devoted couple reared eight children together, six boys and two girls. Willie began his life in the building trade as a carpenter and around 60 years ago he formed a small building company, which mainly focused on local authority projects. Business remained at a fairly modest level until around the late 1960s when his sons began to join him in the business, which then became William Neville & Sons Construction Ltd. Pat, the eldest was the first to join his father and then Seamus, Liam, Brendan, Colm and Anthony all followed over the course of the next two decades. Over the years the family company continually expanded with great success and it now operates throughout Ireland, the UK and the United States. Pat and Liam later formed their own successful construction companies, while their four brothers remain in William Neville & Sons Construction Ltd. Though a quiet and modest man, Willie was privately very happy with the great success his company enjoyed and very proud of the work of his sons, for whom he laid a very firm foundation in life. Family always came first for Willie, who loved to spend time with his beloved wife Catherine, his sons and his two daughters, Maura and Ann. He was a man of great faith and for 32 years in a row he travelled to Lourdes as a helper. Willie had a keen interest in the GAA and was a very good handballer and footballer in his youth. He always retained an interest in the fortunes of Bannow-Ballymitty and the county teams. He was also a member of the Bannow Mummers for many years. Willie and Catherine lived in their native Bannow until 1977, when they moved to Richmond on Spawell Road in Wexford. A very quiet and easy going individual, Willie was nonetheless very clear in his thinking and his convictions. He was also a very generous man, with his time as well as everything else. The high esteem in which Willie was held was reflected by the huge number of people who attended both his removal to Bride Street Church on Saturday evening and his Requiem Mass on Sunday afternoon. His Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr. Denis Doyle, a good friend of Willie's who paid a beautiful tribute to him in his homily. Also in attendance were Bishop of Ferns Denis Brenna, Fr Denis O'Connor and Fr. Aodhan Marken. The Lourdes Brancardiers formed a Guard of Honour for Willie on Saturday night and the Bannow Mummers formed a Guard of Honour on Sunday as he was brought to Bannow Cemetery where he was laid to rest. Willie is sadly missed by his loving wife Catherine, daughters Maura and Ann, sons Pat, Seamus, Liam, Brendan, Colm and Anthony, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace. Courtesy of the Wexford People, 4th February 2009 Tweet

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