Funeral arrangements announced for Aghamore footballer and school teacher James McNeive

FUNERAL details have been announced for Aghamore footballer and schoolteacher James McNeive, who died in a road accident in Co Sligo. 

His remains will be at the Marian Funeral Home, Knock (F12 A726) on Friday evening, August 9, from 4 o'clock until 8 o'clock. Removal from the family home on will take place Saturday morning to the Church of St John the Baptist, Knock for mass at 11am. He will then be buried in Knock Cemetery.

The East Mayo community was left ‘numbed and shocked’ after his passing at the age of 28. 

Shortly after 6am on Sunday morning, Mr McNeive was killed after a van he was driving collided with a lorry on the N15 at Urlar, Drumcliffe, Co Sligo.

It is understood Mr McNeive had been driving from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, where he had been visiting his girlfriend.

Reared in Churchfield in the heart of Knock village, Mr McNeive was a much-valued member of Aghamore GAA. Last Friday, he togged for the club’s senior team against Breaffy and played a junior game against Kilmaine the previous week.

“He hails from a well-regarded family who are heavily involved with the club. His brothers, Matthew and Michael, and cousins, Ross, Enda and Matthew Sweeney, have played for the club, while his uncle, Pat Sweeney, is a former chairperson.”

Speaking to The Mayo News, Frank Flynn, the current chairperson of Aghamore GAA, described news of his passing as ‘devastating’ for the club.

Footballer and friend

ON Sunday evening, members of Aghamore GAA’s senior and junior teams gathered in their clubhouse to console each other following the passing of their former teammate, affectionately known as ‘Deadly’ by his fellow players.

“They’ve lost a player, they’ve lost a clubmate and they’ve lost a friend. The players are devastated,” said Mr Flynn.

“He was known because he had a smiley face and he was known for the support that he’d give, especially to the youngsters coming into a team, even though he was quite young himself he did liaise a lot with the 18, 19-year-olds,” Mr Flynn said.

“He was that himself a few years earlier, and he knew what it’s like to break into a senior team. He offered support to younger ones that way.”

Warm memories

The David Lenehan Memorial Truck & Tractor Run, a fundraiser in aid of Aghamore GAA and Tooreen GAA in memory of the late Tooreen hurler, was re-routed to avoid Knock village on Sunday morning as a mark to the McNeive family.

Fr Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock, said Mr McNeive’s passing has ‘numbed’ the parish.

“We have had a couple of other tragedies over the past couple of weeks but the place is just numb,” Fr Gibbons told The Mayo News.

“It’s very hard to find the right words to console the family at this stage. They [the community] are doing their best to be around them and to be with them as well, but it has really numbed and shocked the community.

“He worked in the grounds here [at Knock Shrine] as most of the young people around the village did. He was a fine, friendly young guy, played with Aghamore and was well known and very well-liked,” Fr Gibbons added.

Cllr Paul Lawless, a local representative and former teammate of Mr McNeive, remembered him as ‘one of the nicest lads on the team’.

“He was really into his health and fitness and loved the good craic as well,” said Cllr Lawless, who extended his sympathies to the McNeive family.

“He comes from the finest family and his extended family were all involved in Aghamore over the years, great community people.”

‘A gentleman’

MR McNieve had been on a career break from a permanent post as a primary teacher in Dublin at the time of his passing. During that time he spent a number of weeks travelling in Australia and covered maternity leave for his cousin, Eimear McNeive, in Third and Fourth Class at Gortskehy NS in south-east Mayo.

Pádraig Ó’Beirn, Principal of Gortskehy NS, told The Mayo News that the school had been ‘numbed’ by his passing.

“He slotted right into our school community as a great teacher, colleague and inspiration to the children,” said Mr Ó Beirn.

“Football played a central part in his life and he helped train the girls and boys with the latter reaching the Cumann na mBunscol county final in MacHale Park in June. James was a gentleman in every sense of the word and we’ll especially remember his warm smile with fondness. We’re grateful for the short time we knew James in Gortskehy and staff, parents and pupils extend our deepest sympathies to his mother Bernie and brothers Michael, Matthew and Peter Jnr.”

Appeal

THE lorry driver involved in the accident which claimed Mc McNeive’s life was taken to Sligo University Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The local coroner was notified and arrangements have been prepared for a post-mortem examination of Mr McNeive’s body.

Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses, including dashcam footage, who were travelling between Drumcliffe and Grange at the time of the collision, to make it available to them.

Anyone with information can contact Sligo Garda Station at 071 9157000, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

James McNeive's Funeral Mass can be viewed online.

He was predeceased by his father Pete, his grandparents Joe and Mary Sweeney and Peter and Nora McNeive; aunts Roseanne and Cáit.

He is sadly and lovingly missed by his heartbroken mother Bernadette; his sister Fiona and her husband Barry; brothers Michael, Matthew and Peter jnr.; girlfriend Catherine Carr; his nieces Beth, Sally and Jane and his nephew Noah; aunts Mary, Noreen, Trish and Kate Sweeney; Patricia, Noreca and Monnie McNeive; uncles Pat, Michael, Sean and Kevin Sweeney, Joe Egan and John McNeive; his beloved cousins, extended Sweeney and McNeive family; his team-mates, neighbours and many friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.