The sudden passing of May McGirr (née Monaghan) occurred on October 1, 2015, at Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry.

May was born in Ederney on May 28, 1937. She was the eldest in a family of seven of the late Patrick and Sarah Monaghan.

She was educated at Ederney Primary school and Mount Lourdes, Enniskillen. At the age of 17, May started her long hairdressing profession, working as an apprentice with Anna Carlin in Irvinestown. She continued her training at Raymond’s in Belfast and made new friendships there, including a life-long friend Sheila McGarrity.

At the age of 24, she opened her first salon in Pettigo. She later opened her next salon in Darling Street, Enniskillen and her sister Mena succeeded her in Irvinestown.

May worked in Enniskillen for around 30 years and then opened her last salon in Ederney.

Her sister Mairead took over in Enniskillen and following her retirement in Ederney, her niece Jayne was her successor.

In 1979, May married Pat McGirr, who was a local cattle dealer and they brought up May’s son, Tom, and remained in Ederney. May loved company and socialising and this combined with her card playing skills; she attended several card drives, mainly 25 and Whist throughout Fermanagh and Tyrone. She was also an early member of Irvinestown Bridge Club and more latterly Dromore. She would have been known far and wide for her generosity amongst friends and neighbours.

May had also a strong and resolute character and this was demonstrated when she successfully fought against cancer back in 2009 and recovered well.

May is survived by her son Tom, sisters Catherine, Mena, Ita, Mairead, brothers John and Pauric and wider family circle and friends. May was predeceased by her husband Pat, baby son Patrick and parents Sarah and PJ Monaghan.

A very well attended funeral service was held in Saint Joseph’s Church, Ederney, and was conducted by Father McEneaney. Paul Mongan (Ederney), Gerry Quinn (Irvinestown) and the McSorley sisters (Omagh) provided music at the service. Burial was in the Sacred Heart Church Cemetery, Irvinestown.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Jim Barnett, Funeral Directors, Irvinestown.

The month’s mind mass is to be held at Joseph’s Church, Ederney on Sunday, November 1, 2015.