Obituary: Mrs. Jane (Dill) Beckett - a stalwart of Seven Towers Irish Dancing

THE many friends of Kells lady, Mrs. Jane Madill Caldwell Beckett, who passed away last week, have been reflecting on her tremendous ability to bring some sunshine into so many lives.

Dill, as she ws known to all, was especially well known as a dedicated, long serving member of the town’s famous Seven Towers Irish Dancing group where she had been for many years a superb ‘right hand woman’ to the late Sadie Bell.

Members of the group, while deeply saddened to hear of her passing, were anxious to let Dill’s family and friends know just how big a role she had played in their lives.

One said: “There was never a dull moment when Dill was around. She was equally popular with young and old and while we have all shed tears we have had just as many laughs when we recall a great friend with a tremendous sense of humour. What a character she was. Dill simply loved life and was ready to entertain at the drop of a hat.

“She and Sadie, along with her great friend, the late Margaret Donnelly were real legends amongst the hundreds and hundreds of dancers who have passed through the ranks of the Seven Towers. We will all be recalling the great laughs we had at the Protestant Hall .. who could forget Dill’s superb fancy dress costumes which had us all in stitches. She was a real original who we could always depend on.

“The Seven Towers Club wish to express their condolences to the Beckett family at this sad time.”

Mrs. Beckett was the dearly loved wife of Speer, of Maybin Park, Kells and the loving mother of Stephen. She will be lovingly remembered by her sorrowing husband, son, daughter-in-law Isabel, grandson Andrew and the entire family circle.