Though my mother, (Anne Shine, late of Gardenrath, Kells) would baulk at the suggestion, she observed her life as an exercise in the Christian virtues of humility and compassion. This was apparent in the duty of care with which she attended patients, as a qualified nurse, at the Catherine McAuley Day Care Centre, Kells and latterly, in retirement, as a volunteer with the St. Vincent De Paul Shop and Conference, Kells. In life, her kindness went unheralded, but not unnoticed.
Born, Anne Haughey of Granemore, near Keady, County Armagh, in 1941, she emigrated to London and met Patsy Shine, a Limerick man, before qualifying as a nurse in 1962. They returned to Ireland and married in 1966, before settling in Limerick city. In the ensuing years, they would raise six children and relocate to New Ross and Kilkenny, before making Kells their permanent home in 1984.
Anne and Patsy integrated into the Kells community, primarily, through their affiliation with Gaeil Colmcille GFC. My mother was justly proud of (son) Thomas’s involvement with the Meath U-21 football team that won the All-Ireland Final in 1993. She followed the great Meath team of the Sean Boylan era and revelled in the success of Armagh when they defeated Kerry to win the All-Ireland Senior Football Final in 2002. A multifaceted lady, Anne viewed life through a wine glass half-full, with a mischievous sense of humour and a keen sense of fair play – especially in playing Bridge! An avid reader, gardener and dog lover, she travelled widely throughout Europe and the US.
Though illness (cancer) caught her and us – her family – off guard, she bore it with great dignity and characteristic good grace. At 81 years, she accepted her fate – more stoically than we did – as the will of God. After a short spell of hospitalisation, Anne duly went to her eternal reward, surrounded by family, at home in Kells, on the night of Tuesday, April 19th, 2022.
She was interred at St. Colmcille’s Cemetery, following Funeral Mass, celebrated by Fr. David Bradley PP on Friday, April 22nd. Her funeral cortege was accorded a Guard of Honour by members of Gaeil Colmcille GFC, with church music provided by pianist, Gavin Murray, uilleann piper, Martin Nolan and vocalist, Deirdre Shannon, whose rendition of ‘Gentle Annie’ was especially poignant.
Predeceased by her parents, Hugh and Mary Margaret, her sisters, Dorothy, Marie, and Eileen and her son, Darragh. Anne is survived by husband Patsy, daughter Aine (Murtagh), sons Noel, Padraig, Thomas and Enda, her sisters Margaret, Bernie, and Patricia, brothers Sean and Hugh, son-in-law Darragh, daughters-in-law Maria, Catriona, Monica, and Laura, eleven grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a large circle of friends.
Photo and obit by Noel Shine
