PEOPLE ALL over New Ross are this week trying to come to terms with the sudden and unexpected passing of one of the town’s most well known and highly respected citizens.
Ger St. Ledger (60), 7 Tower Grove, passed away peacefully in Wexford General Hospital, surrounded by his family, at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday having taken ill at home earlier that day.
Originally from Abbeyview, he was one of a family of 12 born to James and Nellie St. Ledger.
A well respected family the St. Ledger name is synonymous with New Ross and through his work and sporting activities Mr. St. Ledger had friends and acquaintances all over the south east.
A staunch New Ross man he was very proud of his town and county. In his younger years he played hurling and football with the Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s G.A.A. club and was also a passionate member of New Ross Celtic A.F.C.
One of his proudest moments was lifting the Leinster Junior Cup, as Celtic Captain, in 1983. In sporting terms it earned him, and his teammates, their place among the greats of Wexford sporting figures.
However, his sporting prowess also saw him play inter-county hurling and football for Wexford at minor level.
Mr. St. Ledger attended primary school in New Ross and shortly after starting secondary school he got a job with the Mineral Water Company which was located in Mary Street.
Having spent some years working there he got a job at the Albatros factory in Rosbercon where he worked for 17 years.
He then got a job on a truck with Paul Mullane who was contracted to United Beverages.
Mr. St. Ledger eventually took over the lorry run from Mr. Mullane and began working for himself. He spent the last 15 years working as a self-employed contractor delivering drinks for the company now known as CNC Gleeson.
The sudden nature of his passing was highlighted by the fact that he was working as normal on Friday.
A devoted family man he loved spending time in the company of his children, Becci, Colin and Daniel, and with his grandchildren, Ella and Holly.
Just this summer he stood proudly on the sideline watching Ella as she began playing U-10 football for Cushinstown Ladies Football Club for the first time.
Sport always played a big part in Mr. St. Ledger’s life and was his biggest passion outside of his family.
A devoted Liverpool fan he travelled over to Britain to see the club play on numerous occasions and saw them contest fierce battles against some of the other big clubs in Britain included arch-rivals Manchester United and Manchester City.
An all-round athlete in his younger years he proved adept at whatever sport he turned his hand to and was a passionate and enthusiastic sportsman who always gave his all when playing.
When his time playing came to an end he took up a managerial role with New Ross Celtic A.F.C. and steered the club to a county League victory.
He was also an enthusiastic golfer and was an active member of the Gate Golfing Society which was formed out of his favourite local, the Three Bullet Gate pub.
A regular attendee at Wexford senior hurling and football matches he always wore his county colours with pride when attending games in Croke Park.
A keen conversationalist he would always have a hearty hello for friends and acquaintances when he’d meet them in the street.
Big in both stature and personality he was a good friend who enjoyed socialising and the banter that came with it.
Mr. St. Ledger also liked music with folk being a particularly favourite genre. He loved classics like ‘Raglan Road’, ‘The Flight of Earls’, and ‘The Town I Loved So Well’ – all of which he wasn’t adverse to singing when the opportunity arose.
As his heartbroken wife, Anne, commented to The Echo: “He was the best friend you could ever have in any lifetime.”
Mrs. St. Ledger also said her family were overwhelmed by the level of support they have received over the last couple of days, however, that’s also a testimony to the high esteem in which Mr. St. Ledger and his family are held.
The family also expressed sincere gratitude to the staff at Wexford General Hospital for their professionalism and for the level of care given to Mr. St. Ledger from the time he took ill to when he passed away.
The news of his death sent shock waves around the town throughout the weekend when word began to filter through about what had happened.
As Mrs. St. Ledger said: “He was larger then life but at the same time you just had to love him.”
He is survived by his wife, Anne, daughter, Becci, sons, Colin and Daniel, grandchildren, Ella and Holly, brothers, Tom, John, Adrian, JJ and Pat, sisters, Mary and Bernadette, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.
He is pre-deceased by his brother Denis and his sisters, Patricia (who died in infancy), Kitty and Lena – who passed away just a few months ago.
Mr. St. Ledger’s funeral Mass took place at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 16, in the Parish Church, New Ross with burial afterwards in St. Stephen’s Cemetery.
The Echo extends sympathies to the bereaved.
