Mary Josephine Gilnagh mourned in Birmingham and Geesala

THE death has occurred of Mary Josephine Gilnagh, in Birmingham, a native of north Mayo, who is deeply mourned in both communities.

Aged 90, Mary Josephine, nee McDonagh, was formerly of Geesala, Ballina, where she grew up, the eldest of a family of five.

Mary Josephine and her husband James Joseph Gilnagh, a native of Longford, were well known and respected figures in their adopted home of Birmingham.

They were at the heart of lots of Irish community activity, running, for some time, a very successful Irish club in Birmingham called St. Francis'. From there they then went on to manage pubs until their retirement from The Woodman, PH in Birmingham.

Mary Josephine passed on Saturday, March 28, and is survived by her only daughter, Margaret, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her sister Sadie Brady of Coventry, nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law Liz McDonagh and Maura McDonagh and family in Geesala.

She was predeceased by her husband James Joseph and sons James Patrick (Birmingham) and Thomas Joseph who lived in Doohoma until his death.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.