ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death, at the age of 103, of Lieutenant-Colonel Ned Cusack, Gortachalla, Moycullen, County Galway and formerly of Mitchelstown, County Cork. Ned died peacefully at home on Tuesday, 16th August 2022. Predeceased by his dearly beloved wife Eileen, and much-loved father of Jim, Eleanor, Anne, Eamon, Maura, Rosemary and Maeve. Sadly missed and mourned by his sons and daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law Rene and Mary, sons-in-law Liam, Edward and Paul, nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Peggy, the extended Cusack and Geoghegan family, neighbours, Defence Forces colleagues and friends, and his wonderful carers.
May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace
Ned Cusack was born on 1st March 1919, the second youngest of a family of 10, and was reared in Mitchelstown, County Cork. He enlisted in the Defence Forces as a member of the 12 Cadet Class in 1938. Commissioned in 1939, Ned was appointed to the Infantry Corps and posted to the I Infantry Battalion, Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway. There he met Eileen Geoghan and they married on 14th June 1944. They were husband and wife for seventy-six years. Having moved to Dublin Ned served in Headquarters Eastern Command as a Staff Officer, in 5 Infantry Battalion, and was Officer Commanding 20 Infantry Battalion FCÁ. Ned’s overseas service included Headquarters 36 Infantry Battalion (ONUC) from November 1961 to May 1962, and 10 Infantry Group (UNFICYP) from March to September 1968 as Company Commander A Company. On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Ned was posted as Officer Commanding 2 Infantry Battalion and Cathal Brugha Barracks.
A passionate angler throughout his life, Ned was a founding member of the All-Army Trout Anglers Competition, established in May 1957. He never missed the annual competition except in 1968, when he was serving in Cyprus, and his name was frequently engraved on the Beaumont Cup, which is on display in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa. Ned was also instrumental in restoring trout to the River Dodder in Dublin and was President of the Dodder Anglers Club. On retirement from the Defence Forces in 1977 he was appointed as Manager of the Salmon Fisheries Weir in Galway, under the auspices of Inland Fisheries, Department of Agriculture.
During ARCO’s inaugural meeting held on 9th November 1993 in the Ashling Hotel, Ned was elected as a Regional Representative for Galway. He was an active member of Cumann Céad Cath, and was honoured with a military Guard of Honour and reception marking his 100th birthday in March 2019.
Reposing at home on Friday, 19th August 2022 from 5 p.m. with Removal to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Moycullen at 7 p.m. Requiem Mass to celebrate Ned’s life will take place on Saturday, 20th August at 12 noon and following Mass he will be laid to rest beside his wife Eileen in the adjoining cemetery.
The Mass will be broadcast live, using the following link: https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/church-of-the-immaculate-concepton
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Ned’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/lt-col-ned-cusack-moycullen-galway/505202
