The Timahoe area and indeed further afield is in mourning today following the sudden death of Billy Ramsbottom on Thursday night.
A long-standing pillar of the community and member of the highly-regarded Ramsbottom family, Billy, aged in his 93rd year, passed away suddenly while attending a greyhound race meeting in Kilkenny.
As well as being hugely involved in a number of Timahoe groups over the years, Billy was very respected in the greyhound community with his association with the sport, as an owner and trainer, going right back to 1966 when he bought his first two dogs.
His youngest son Karol now keeps about 20 greyhounds at one time and is one of the top trainers in the country.
Of course the link to the GAA and in particular Timahoe GAA runs deep also.
Friendly and decent to a fault, Billy was chairman of Timahoe GAA when the club won its first and – to this date – only Laois senior football title in 1969.
As a player he was on the team that won the Laois intermediate football championship in 1962.
His brother Sean was chairman of Laois GAA in the 1970s and 1980s while another brother, Noel, was a renowned trainer of various teams.
Billy’s death means he is the last from that generation of Ramsbottom family to pass away. Sean and Noel both passed in 2022 while Fr Pat died in 2016.
Billy was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary in 2012. His deeply mourned by his sons Pat, Liam, JJ, Mellow and Karol, daughters Mairead, Patricia and Mary P.
He will also be missed by his sisters-in-law Bríd, Marie Goretti, brother-in-law Michael, sons-in-law Donal and Dan, daughters in law Margaret, Deirdre, Fran, Linda, Irene and his 17 adored grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
Reposing in St Michael’s Church, Timahoe (R32 X880) on Sunday (Christmas Eve) from 1pm to 5.30pm.
Arriving for Requiem mass to Saint Michael’s Church, Timahoe for 1pm on (Saint Stephens Day) Tuesday, followed by Interment in Saint Michael’s Cemetery. Family flowers only. House private on Tuesday morning please.
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