Longford communities mourn death of woman of great refinement and of great faith

There was deep sorrow in the area at the news of the peaceful passing of Margaret Reilly, Cloughernal, Granard last Thursday, March 7 in Mullingar Hospital at the age of 93 after a short illness.

Margaret was the last surviving member of the McGauran family from Cornadrung in the parish of Colmcille and came to Cloughernal in 1958 when she married Paddy Reilly where they farmed and raised their family until Margaret was widowed at a relatively young age.

She continued to live at the family home until her final illness and was always a welcoming and helpful neighbour to all in the locality. Margaret was a woman of great refinement and of great faith who will be greatly missed in the area.

She was predeceased by her husband Paddy, her parents, and her sisters and brothers.

Margaret was a real lady who it was always a joy to meet as she had a great interest in everything local and she had a keen interest in the political scene and was never afraid to voice her opinion.

A lady of great faith  Margaret attended Mass on a daily basis and she loved the annual Novena in St Mary's church in Granard and like all of her generation she has passed on this to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters Mary Quinn (Abbeylara) and Patricia Kilduff (Ardagh), her son Séamus, her daughter-in-law Mary, her sons-in-law Vincent Quinn and Matt Kilduff, her beloved grandchildren Thomas and Matthew, Patrick, Antoinette and Mary, Siobhán, Katherine and Thomas, her sister-in-law Violet, her nieces and nephews, her relatives, friends, neighbours, Reilly and McGauran families to whom we extend our sympathies.

Margaret reposed in the family home on Saturday and Sunday evening and large crowds passed through to offer sympathy and support to her family and to say a fond farewell to a much loved mother grandmother, aunt and great neighbour who will be sadly missed by all.

Margaret's funeral Mass was celebrated in Carra Church on Monday, March 11 and she was laid to rest in the family plot afterwards. May she rest in peace.