PASSING OF POPULAR MONAGHAN TOWNSMAN LEAVES MAJOR VOID IN COMMUNITY

Deep sorrow and regret across Monaghan Town and the much wider circle of his acquaintance greeted the news of the passing this week of Hugh Coyle of Latlurcan. A proud member of the Monaghan Arch Club and the Monaghan Rehab Care organisation, one of the most devoted supporters of Monaghan Harps GFC and an enthusiast of, and active participant in, all the major annual community events of Monaghan, Hugh was one of the most widely known personalities of the town of recent times and his passing at Cavan General Hospital on Friday January 14 last has left an enormous void in the community.

The poignancy of his loss has registered particularly with the staff of the Northern Standard newspaper, who regarded Hugh not only as a great friend but a valued unofficial “correspondent” of sorts, who kept us in constant touch with the activities of the many organisations to which he was attached, and kept us on our toes in ensuring that the public were constantly updated on them. Our own deep sympathy is added to that which has poured out spontaneously from the wider community to his sister Mary, Angela, Majella and Geraldine; brothers Seamus and Micheál; sister-in-law Marie; brotherin- law Raymond; nieces Aoibhín and Gráinne; nephews Olan and David, grandniece Freya, grandnephew Noah and extended family. Hugh was predeceased by his parents Jim and Gretta and sister Carmel. Monaghan’s sadness at Hugh’s death was eloquently conveyed at his Funeral Mass in St Macartan’s Cathedral on Monday morning last, following which Hugh was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery in Castleblayney.

Members of Monaghan Harps GFC carried the remains for part of the cortege’s procession to the Cathedral, with members of the Monaghan Arch Club and the Monaghan Special Olympics organisation among those staging guards of honour. As Hugh’s funeral was taking place on Monday, the members of the Monaghan Municipal District were paying tribute to his memory. At their monthly meeting, a vote of sympathy with the Coyle family was moved by Independent local public representative Seamus Treanor, who recalled Hugh as a great GAA supporter with a particular devotion to Monaghan Harps. Councillor Treanor paid tribute to Hugh’s contribution to the Arch Club and the Special Olympics movement and to the sterling service he gave as steward to the annual…