Ringtown GAA and Coole, Whitehall bid farewell to Bill

Ringtown GAA and Coole, Whitehall community said goodbye to the club president Bill Boyhan, on Saturday June 24. William Boyhan, affectionately as Bill, was born in Faughalstown, Whitehall in 1939. He had seven siblings, and family was important to Bill – he said himself he was "the last of the Boyhan dynasty of his generation".

Bill and the Boyhan family were steeped in the history of Ringtown Hurling Club, where his father and brothers won many honours all those years ago. He attended secondary school in Castlepollard, where he passed his exams with flying colours, and at the age of 19, he emigrated to England, like so many other Irish people of his generation.

In England, while working full time, he studied to become an engineer and architect. In 1961, he met Lil, the love of his life, in a dance hall in Birmingham. It ended up being a lifelong partnership on the ballroom dance floor, and in marriage five years later.

Bill had a successful career, and worked for companies like Rolls Royce and BMW. He travelled a lot with his work, which he loved, and was renowned for his skill at planning and organisation.

Bill retired back home, to Clonteen 23 years ago and became active with his beloved Ringtown GAA, where his planning and organisation skills came into use again, as he was involved in the design and layout of the fantastic facilities the club have today.

He was then tasked with being the editor of the Ringtown Hurling Club 100-year history book, a task he enjoyed as he loved the history of the club and local area. He was integral to the development of the club lotto.

Bill also had a unique medal collection, some of them more than 100 years old. In later years Bill became president of Ringtown GAA, a role he took great pride in, and served as chairman with the Coole Community Employment Scheme, where he always encouraged participants to do training and improve their skill sets.

Bill’s funeral was attended by a large crowd of family and friends in St John the Baptist Church, Whitehall. Symbols used at the beginning of the Mass were his family medals, a hurl, a garden plant to signify his love for gardening, the Ringtown history book, plans of the club facilities, and a model car to represent his time in England.

Bill was a great servant to the local community and will be sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him.

Ringtown GAA extend their sincere sympathies to Bill’s wife Lil and extended family.

Rest in peace, Bill.