The late Jackie Sheil Some individuals race through their time on earth. Some among us amble along life's pathway. Neither has the opportunity nor will to fully enjoy the beauty and wonder of life and all that is has to offer. Jackie Sheil, who died suddenly and tragically on July 9th, 2003 at 47 years of age, did not fall into either of these two categories. Jackie's conscious decisions and actions made the world a place where he and his family could enjoy the time available to them. These were qualities that he learned at a young age from his loving mother, Hannah (RIP), who like Carmel, Jackie's wife, had lost her husband David, Jackie's father when he too was in his 40's. Jackie was actively involved in the Wexford sporting scene all his life. In his younger years he was a prominent member of St Josephs Boys Club. Under the guidance of Fr Harry Sinnott, Jackie won numerous county Leinster medals. He was part of the successful gaelic football underage teams, winning juvenile, minor and under-21 county titles. A talented hurler Jackie won juvenile and minor county medals with Faythe Harriers. He also won under-14 and under-15 county cross-country titles. In 1973 Jackie played football and hurling for the Wexford minors. He played for the Wexford senior football team from 1975 until 1980 making his first senior appearance at the age of 19. Jackie was also a talented soccer player and played with Park Hotspur underage and junior teams. He signed professional forms for St Patrick's for one season. In later years he played with Town Celtic and was part of the 1987 cup winning side. Jackie was regarded as an extremely talented sportsman. He was a great reader of the game and had a great strike of the ball off either foot. At his funeral Jackie was given a guard of honour by members of the Wexford senior team of the late '70s and by members of St Joseph's Club and his team mates from Wexford Celtic. Although Jackie's determination was well known in Wexford on the sporting fields, this quality was never more evident than when he turned his thoughts to home. It was no coincidence that for Jackie home was where the heart was. Having pursued and achieved a successful business career in the construction industry in Dublin during the mid 1980s, after graduating from Dublin Institute of Technology, Jackie and Carmel determined that they would be happier returning to his home town and birthplace, Wexford. Over the years and in various positions with National Aluminium, a brief period in private enterprise with his father-in-law, Laurence McGrath and finally with LB Plastics, Jackie enjoyed considerable business success. None of that success nor fulfilment could compare with the joy and happiness that Jackie derived from the company of Carmel and their three children Louise, Elaine and Fiachra. Once again with his usual determination and clarity, to devote his time and energy to the most important and central tenet of his life, his family. Jackie moved quickly to establish a work environment that permitted him to work form home, with limited travel. On the fields of play or in the business fields that he had cultivated, or at the Kentucky Derby in Spain, Greece, the UK or the US, Jackie was always at home, but he was only ever at peace in Wexford with his family around him. He is around them now, and forever with the same loving care and attention that he always provided. He is survived by his loving wife, Carmel, daughters Louise, Elaine and son Fiachra, brother-in-law Dony, Richard and Liam; sister-in-law, Siobhan, Geralyn and Laura; parents-in-law, Lawrence and Angela McGrath; nephews, David, Eoin, Enda, Cillian, Jack, Gerry, Ian and Gavin; nieces, Helen and Hannah. Ni fhacamis a leitheid aris. Courtesy of the Wexford People August 2003 Tweet

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