The death has occurred of Denis Hanley, Lakeside Park, Naas, Co. Kildare (and formerly Templemore, Co. Tipperary).
Friday 26th October 2012, (peacefully) in the tender care of the staff at the Beacon Hospital.
He will be sadly missed by his loving wife Laura, children Catherine, Ray and Gavin, wonderful daughter-in-law Deirdre, darling grandchildren John, Ruth and Sara and extended family.
Funeral Arrangements: Reposing at his residence from 3 O’clock to 8 O’clock on Sunday. Requiem Mass in the church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas at 11 O’clock on Monday. Burial follows afterwards in St. Corban’s Cemetery Naas. House Private on Monday morning, please. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu to St. Brigid’s Hospice, The Curragh or St. Vincent de Paul, Naas.
May Denis rest in peace.
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Denis Hanley
On Saturday 27th October the town of Naas lost one of its gentlest, dedicated and most passionate citizens with the passing of Denis. Known to hoards of Juvenile hurlers as the 103 years old coach, Denis left a legacy that will continue when ever sportspeople and townspeople meet.
A native of Templemore Denis came to Naas in 1962 working for the post office. He quickly immersed himself in helping others with the Lakeside Residents Association, Care of the Aged, Tidy Towns Committee, Naas Community Council, Naas CBS and St Mary’s Convent school Committees and Chairman of the Parish Council. His generous spirit and sense of community was infectious as many new members came on board with his gentle encouragement.
As a Tipperary native his love of sport was infused from an early age and many an evening was spent as Denis fondly and modestly reminisced past glories and past failures with an uncanny accuracy that came from the heart. He played many games for his Post Office, gracing Croke Park on a number of occasions. His love affair with Naas GAA began in 1979. Since then he has served as coach, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, most recently Chairman of the Juvenile section. Since 2004 he has coached hurling to the children in Scoil an Linbh Íosa Ballycane, Scoil BhrÍd and St Corban’s. Generations of hurlers can recall the first time they proudly took up the hurley only to be castigated with the shout of “Keep your strong hand on top!” For many years Denis was a fixture at all Naas’s hurling games recording every player’s position, who scored what and who missed what. Looking back on these archives brought a glint to Denis’s eye as it settled many disputes that players had wished had been forgotten.
The Hurling Féile competition was like a pilgrimage for Denis and his cohort of buddies as they took in the highways and byways viewing and commenting on upcoming talent. A talented hurler would be noted and their progress monitored annually. As Secretary to the Féile when hosted by Kildare he did a professional job admired nationally.
Along with GAA Denis was an avid golfer and eagerly looked forward to the Thursday “Rob” in Naas Golf club. His many friends there recall his passion, pride and frustration as the gap between theory and practice was always a challenge. Not too many years ago Denis went to the Doctor for a check up. Asked if he was taking any exercise he replied, ” I played 18 holes of golf yesterday and 18 the day before that, carrying the bag each time.” The doctor closed the file and called for the next patient.
To some being a perfectionist and holding high standards in life can be onerous or divisive. Denis had these standards that he set and achieved with confidence and an ease in life. To us, his avuncular style, smile and hand of friendship were always welcoming. He beamed with understated pride at his garden, jam and marmalade , breads, fine tastes for coffee and the many wonderful jouneys he made abroad with Laura, especially to Italy. A simple query “How did you get on ?” was the catalyst for an encycloepedic account of all aspects of his trip.
Most of all Denis was dedicated to his family. His fondness and love for Laura was enduring as he always kept a close eye on his watch when apparently in free abandon away at matches. He loved going home to chat about the day’s events. Catherine, Ray and Gavin were always spoken of with contentment and the father’s knowledge of a loving family. A new lease of life came to him with the births of his grandchildren, John, Ruth and Sarah. It was a well worn path to Clontarf . He beamed recalling their progress, a smile, slight shake of the head and a chuckle that brightened his life.
Denis was a gentleman in the most traditional and honourable sense of that person. A raconterer, sportsman, community activist, husband, father and grandfather and a great friend.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Obituary as in Naas G.A.A. Website
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