RIP: Profound shock in Longford following death of retired Garda sergeant and beekeeper

There was a profound sense of shock across the north Longford parish of Mullinalaghta on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 as word spread of the sudden death of Éamon Hand, Mullinroe. 

Éamon was born in 1962 and was the youngest of five children of Peter and Frances Hand of Mullinroe. 

After his education in Clooneen and Cloonagh National Schools and Cnoc Mhuire, Granard, he joined the Garda Síochána where he served until his retirement, being stationed in Ballyconnell and then for many years in Ballinagh, where he was sergeant until his retirement. 

It was in Ballyconnell that he met his future wife Eleanor Finn and they were married in 1985, raising their family in Cavan town. 

After the passing of his parents, Éamon decided to renovate the family home in Mullinroe and the family came back to Mullinalaghta on his retirement from the Gardaí. 

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Éamon was always a diligent, methodical and conscientious individual and these qualities were much in evidence as he took up his hobby of beekeeping and converted it into a successful enterprise, with multiple apiaries across both Cavan and Longford and selling Carrickfern Honey to many local outlets, and his experience and advice was much in demand in the beekeeping community. 

Éamon was a pleasant and neighbourly individual with great intelligence and integrity and was much valued by his friends and neighbours in Mullinalaghta and across the region. He took great pleasure in the progress and successes of his children and was recently delighted by the arrival of his first grandchild Eimear. 

As befitted someone with his upbringing and his skills in apiary, Éamon had a great love of the countryside and of nature and enjoyed his daily walks down to Derrycassan woods with his faithful canine friend Brutus who repaid his loyalty to the end. 

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Éamon was predeceased by his parents and by his oldest sister Mary. 

He is survived by his wife Eleanor, his daughter Aoife, his sons Seán, Feargal, and Peter, his daughters-in-law Ceilí and Dori, his granddaughter Eimear, his brother John, his sisters Bernadette and Ailish, his sisters and brothers-in-law, his nephews and nieces, and a large circle of friends to whom we extend our deepest sympathies. 

The large attendances at his wake and funeral bore witness to the high esteem in which he and his family are held. His Funeral Mass took place in St Columba’s Church on Friday, February 20 and was celebrated by Fr Kevin Donohoe, a near neighbour of Eleanor’s, assisted by Fr Michael Bannon, Fr Simon Cadam, Fr Peter Beglan and Fr Kevin Fay, followed by interment in Mullinalaghta cemetery. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal agus dílis.

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