As one year ends and the next one begins, we often find ourselves looking back on the people we have lost.
Laois lost a number of great people over the last 12 months and below, we will remember some of them who featured on our site.
Our deepest sympathies go to their families and loved ones.
While every effort has been made to make this article as comprehensive as we can, we know there are some omissions which we may not have been aware of at the time of their death. If any family would like to remember a loved one on their first anniversary in 2022, please get in touch and we would be happy to carry a piece.
JANUARY
Johnny Dalton
One of the first deaths of 2021 was the passing of legendary Timahoe community man Johnny Dalton.
He was known far and wide for his involvement in sporting, community and charity groups.
Aged in his mid 70s, Johnny was originally from Raheen and played hurling with Colt in his early years though he had lived in the Cremorgan townsland of Timahoe for most of his life with his wife Catherine and large family.
He was involved in numerous community organisations in Timahoe over a long number of years as well as being involved with Laois GAA County Board. He also organised an annual New Year’s Day walk in Timahoe for the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Fatima Invalids Fund.
Jerry Dowling
“It was with deep sadness and a genuine sense of loss that the people of Errill and surrounding areas heard of the death of Jerry Dowling,” wrote fellow Errill man Timmy Williams in a lovely tribute.
“Jerry not only have a lifetime of tremendous service and honest endeavour to the Errill GAA club but also to many other important activities in the community, for example the Water Scheme, St Bernadette’s Hall, FCA, Fianna Fail and the local cemetery.
Jerry passed away at the age of 90 on New Year’s Day. He was pre-deceased by his wife Teresa and grand-daughter Jade and is sadly mourned by his sons Tom, Dinny and Diarmuid and wide circle of family, neighbours and friends.
PJ Nealon
Mr Nealon, who was originally from Janesboro, Limerick, passed away peacefully at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise on Monday January 4.
A keen GAA man, Mr Nealon was involved heavily with his local club Portlaoise. He managed various teams in the 80s and 90s – as well as serving as secretary.
PJ, who worked in Avonmore, was also a very popular member of the Active Retirement Group.
Clare Dunne
There was sadness in the Courtwood and Belgrove communities at the death of Clare Dunne after a short illness.
Clare was originally a Fennell from Grattan Street in Portlaoise before moving to Belgrove, Ballybrittas, where she lived with her husband Paddy and her three children Enda, Helen and Pauric.
For many years she worked in the Midland Health Board/HSE in a dental assistant’s role which included visiting many local primary schools. Her kindness to the students was a hallmark of those regular visits.
Liam Carroll
Originally from Clonanny near Portarlington, Liam was one of the founding members of O’Dempsey’s GAA club in 1951 and the club’s first chairman before moving to live and farm in Courtwood.
It was on his land that the Courtwood footballers used as their home pitch – known as ‘The Lawn’ – for many years prior to their move to their current grounds in the 1990s.
Liam was a very active member of the Irish Farmers Association and as well as being chairman of Vicarstown IFA for over 25 years, he also served as Laois IFA grain chairman which meant that he was a member of the national IFA grain committee for a number of years. He was an honorary life member of Laois IFA prior to his death.
Helen Whelehan
Helen Whelehan, from Ballycarroll, Portarlington, was a teacher in the Presentation Primary School for almost 40 years.
Speaking at her funeral mass, Fr Tom Dooley said: “Helen came to the parish of Portarlington from her beloved Dingle as a young primary school teacher and for just 40 years, she taught in the in the Presentation girls school in Portarlington.
“Over those years, he life touched the lives of every family in the community.
“She brought a great sense of vocation into her work. While her primary role was in teaching, Helen was deeply involved in the sporting, cultural, music and faith life of the school and the community.”
Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy was born in 1930 and grew up on a small farm in Derryfore just outside Ballyroan. His two great passions in life were farming and the GAA.
He passed away suddenly while out herding cattle and was a much loved character in his community.
Dean O’Farrell
There was deep sadness in Portlaoise and in the Irish Defence Forces following the passing of Dean O’Farrell.
Mr O’Farrell, from Dunmasc in Portlaoise, who was just 32, passed away following a battle with cancer.
He was a serving member of the Defence Forces in the 2 Brigade Ordinance Group at the Customs Barracks in Athlone.
John Miller
The death occurred of John Miller, from Glenbawn outside Athy, a well-known and highly-regarded man on both sides of the Laois-Kildare border.
Aged 76, he passed away in Clover Lodge Nursing Home in Athy at the end of January.
A farmer and a very talented sports man, John won an All Ireland U-21 football title with Kildare in 1965 and a Leinster junior in 1966. He also turned his hand to rugby and was a Towns Cup winner with Athy in 1984.
John Ulick Conroy
John ‘Ulick’ Conroy, from Beladd in Portlaoise, passed away on January 31 in St James’s Hospital in Dublin.
A loving husband to Betty, father to Conor, Audrey and Rory, father in law to Fergal and Zoe, grandfather TJ, Nadine, Dara and Odin – and friend to so many lost his life as a result of Covid-19.
FEBRUARY
Sinéad Ní Nualláin
The Graiguecullen community was shocked and saddened at the sudden death of Sinead Nolan, a young woman in her early 40s.
Sinead, who worked as a primary school teacher in the Gaelscoil in Portlaoise, had been a founding member of the Gaelscoil in Athy, where she also served as principal.
A strong advocate of the Irish language, she was known to many of her friends as ‘Múinteoir’ and had been pushing the promotion of the Irish language strongly in the Graiguecullen GAA club, offering extra lessons to students out of school hours, in the weeks before her sad death.
Larry Mahony
There was sadness in the Cullohill and Durrow at the start of February with the death of one of the community’s highly-respected members Larry Mahony.
Aged in his early 80s, Larry was well known across sporting, farming, community and business circles.
He was a renowned hurler who represented Cullohill, Laois and Leinster during a distinguished playing career.
Pat Hyland
Pat Hyland was a former long-serving Fine Gael councillor in Monasterevan and chairman of Kildare County Council.
Mr Hyland of Oghill House Stud near Monasterevan was highly-regarded in the equestrian business and served as a local councillor throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He was chairman of Kildare County Council in 1981.
Jim Maloney
Jim Maloney was a highly-regarded member of the local community in Vicarstown.
He passed away at the age of 93 after a short illness. In a good-humoured and loving tribute, son James said that his father drove the tractor on the family farm – in the Tonefarna townsland where he lived all his life – until he was 89.
Terry O’Connell
Terry O’Connell from Vicarstown, a legendary Laois football figure of the 1950s, passed away in February.
Terry, who won two championships with Annanough in 1951 and 1956, was one of only five Laois men to play with Leinster in that decade at what was the height of the famous Railway Cup competition.
He was the only Laois representative in 1956 and 1957 and only Tommy Murphy from Graiguecullen, Paddy Dunne from Park, Jack Kenna from O’Dempsey’s and Ballylinan’s Fintan Walsh were selected for the province in the 1950s.
Des Mulhare
Mr Mulhare, who was in his 96th year, was a former prison officer and lived in Clondalkin in Dublin but was originally from Main Street in Stradbally.
Des played for the Laois footballers in the 1940s before a knee injury cut his career short at the age of 25.
Gary Halpin
Mr Halpin died suddenly aged only 55.
The Kilkenny native had been working in Cistercian Roscrea since 2017, after the school had been saved from closure. He lived on the school grounds with his wife Carol, who also worked there.
Gerard O’Brien
Gerard O’Brien, from Portlaoise, passed away on Friday February 26 surrounded by his loving family.
Mr O’Brien was the principal of Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré from its creation in 1999 until his retirement a few years ago.
Br Cyrill Collins
Br Cyrill Collins, who lived in De La Salle Brothers, Miguel House in Castletown, was originally from Doon, Kiskeam in Cork.
He first came to Castletown in 1941 when he decided to join the Brothers in Laois after a visit from one to his school in Cork – and went on to live an incredible life.
MARCH
Hannah Finane
Hannah, who would have been 101 in May, passed in the tender care of the doctors, nurses and staff of Portlaoise Regional Hospital.
Hannah Finane is a mother of eight – five boys and three girls. Ciaran (of Finline Furniture), George (of Finane and Cummins Hauliage), Billy, Michael, Seamus, Mary, Rita and the late Noreen.
Rafe Scott
There was widespread sadness at the sudden death of Raef Scott from Ballyfin, a highly-regarded former teacher in Ballyfin College in March.
He is remembered by his many past pupils as a truly excellent maths teacher who was kind and welcoming to the students who came into his classroom.
Martin Cermak
21-year-old Martin Cermak tragically passed away in the middle of March.
A native of Portlaoise, Mr Cermak is survived by his father Petr, mother Sarka Cermakova, sister Kamila Cermakova, brother Petr Cermak, sister in law Lucie Rusznyakova, nephews Lukas and Samuel and niece Isabell.
APRIL
Cathal Clooney
There was deep sadness in Abbeyleix following the sad passing of Cathal Clooney.
The Third Year Heywood Community School student, 15, passed away peacefully in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Dublin, on Sunday April 11.
A talented musician, Cathal is deeply missed by the community and all that knew him.
Elizabeth Casey
Elizabeth Casey passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, surrounded by her loving family at University Hospital, Limerick, on Monday April 19.
Originally from Kildare town, she is sadly missed by her loving husband Noel, sons Frank and Enda, daughters Mary, Nuala and Angela, sons in law Martin, Tom and Thomas and her grandchildren.
John Duggan
There was widespread sadness in Portlaoise and surrounding areas following the death of John Duggan, a highly-regarded teacher in the local CBS secondary school for many years.
John was widely known in teaching and sporting circles and was heavily involved in the school’s GAA teams over the years as well as with the Portlaoise GAA club, whom he played and coached with.
In 2004 he guided Portlaoise CBS to the All Ireland Colleges ‘B’ football final which they narrowly lost to St Louis of Kilkeel from Down.
Mick Keogh
The death of Mick Keogh has marked the end of an era in the O’Dempsey’s GAA club as the hugely popular local man made a huge contribution to the club over a long number of years.
He was heavily involved in O’Dempsey’s two senior championship successes – as chairman and selector in 1963 when they beat Portarlington in the final for their first senior triumph and then as trainer 17 years later when they stunned Graiguecullen in the decider.
Robbie Lyons
The death of Robbie Lyons, a native of Portarlington but a well-known publican in an Chatteris in Cambridgeshire for the past number of decades, occurred at the end of April.
Mr Lyons, who was aged in his mid 60s, was from a well-known Portarlington family and grew up in St Patrick’s Terrace in the town.
According to the Cambs Times, he took over the George Hotel in the town in 2000 and “transformed the over 250-year-old building in a modern community hub”.
MAY
Aine Purcell
Aine Purcell, who is from Ballyfin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 4, surrounded by her family, at the Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.
Áine is the dearly beloved wife of Brian and cherished and loved mother to Brian and Robbie – while she is also survived by her parents Daniel and Anna and her sister Maura.
Martin Breen
There was sadness in Shanahoe in May following the passing of a man who was heavily involved in their local GAA club.
Martin Breen passed away peacefully at his home in the loving care of his wife and family.
A fine hurler, Mr Breen was a founding member of Shanahoe GAA club in 1980.
Carmel Murphy
The death occurred in May of Carmel Murphy, the former proprietor of the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow.
Mrs Murphy, who was in her 91st year, was a native of Wicklow but had been living in Durrow for a long number of years where the family have been involved with the busy Castle Arms establishment.
The hotel was opened in 1955 and has hosted all sorts of local events over the years as well as being a hugely popular stop-off point on the main Dublin-Cork road.
Brother Oliver (Tom) Deane
There was sadness in Castletown following the passing of Brother Oliver (Tom) Deane just days before his 93rd birthday.
Brother Oliver was originally from Goulane, Castlegregaory in Kerry and was laid to rest in Castletown on Monday May 1 – on his birthday.
Tom Deane arrived in Castletown in 1943 at the age of fifteen where he did his initial training with the De La Salle Brothers in Miguel House.
Joe Dooley
Going to matches in O’Moore Park won’t be the same for many people following the sad death of Joe Dooley from Borris-in-Ossory.
Joe was a long-time steward at the grounds and for many years was the man on the gate that let players, officials and media into the ground.
He had a word for everyone and a good-humoured way about him that welcomed those he met on match days.
Christy O’Shea
Often when you think of certain areas and communities, there is a name that will immediately spring to mind – Christy O’Shea was one such name.
Over a lifetime of community involvement, he was a local historian, sacristan in the church, caretaker in Heywood and provided the notes to the Leinster Express in his role as the local correspondent.
Rita Keenan
Laois County Councillors paid tribute to the late Rita Keenan at a Council meeting in May.
Mrs Keenan passed away peacefully at Portlaoise Regional Hospital surrounded by her family.
Predeceased by her husband Tom, who was a Councillor, and daughters Geraldine and Sarah, Rita was a loving mother to Teresa, Mary, Bernadette, Rita, Pat, Tom and Phillip.
JUNE
Laura Kilkenny
There was deep sadness in Portlaoise and throughout the county of Laois following the passing of Laura Kilkenny.
Mrs Kilkenny passed on Tuesday June 1 and was known far and wide for her musical talent, witty humour and her incredible ability to light up a room with her smile.
Originally from Dublin, Laura moved to Portlaoise many years ago with her late husband Tony who was a prison officer.
Louis Brennan
Sympathies were extended to former acting Laois County Manager Louis Brennan on the death of his brother Jackie in the family’s home place of Milford, Borrisokane in Co Tipperary.
Louis Brennan, who is well known across Laois having been involved in a number of groups and ventures, was acting manager of Laois County Council prior to his retirement in 2006.
John (Jackie) Brennan was in his 80th year and passed away in June last surrounded by his loving family.
Brother Gus Freeley
There was sadness in Castletown in June following the passing of Brother Augustine (Gus) Freeley.
Originally from Mayo, Brother Gus came to Castletown at the age of 16.
At his funeral mass in Castletown on June 11, Brother Martin Curran paid tribute to Gus.
Jim McCormack
The death occurred of Portlaoise man Jim McCormack in South Africa.
Mr McCormack, who moved to South Africa with his wife Esther in 2017 to be close to his daughter Aisling, her husband Duane and their family, passed away on Sunday June 27 in South Africa.
Jim’s passing came on the second anniversary of Aisling’s death who died suddenly in June 2019.
JULY
Ray Dunne
There was deep shock and sadness following the passing of a much loved Laois man.
Raymond Dunne, from The Swan in Laois, passed away suddenly on Monday July 5.
A revered member of the motorsport scene in Laois, Mr Dunne’s passing led to an outpouring of emotion on social media.
Marty Rohan
The death occurred in July of former Laois County Councillor and Midland Health Board chairman Marty Rohan from Ballinakill at the age of 88.
Mr Rohan was a long-serving Fianna Fail county councillor, first elected in the 1970s and he served right up until 2004.
He was a highly-respected local representative who remembered as both courteous and assertive and authoritative when needed.
Seamus Downey
There was sadness in the village of Ballybrittas following the passing of Seamus (Jim) Downey.
A former member of An Garda Siochana, Mr Downey, who is originally from Monasterevin, passed away on Sunday July 4. He is predeceased by his father Paddy.
He is sadly missed by his wife Margaret, daughters Emma and Hannah and his grandson Paddy.
Hannah Delaney
There is a deep sadness in the Pike of Rushall, Castletown and surrounding areas in July following the untimely passing of Hannah Delaney.
Mrs Delaney (nee Keaveney) was a highly-respected member of the local community and in Portlaoise Hospital where she worked as a nurse for a number of years.
She passed away on Saturday in St James’ Hospital in Dublin following a brave battle with illness.
Tommy Hannon
A native of Drum, Athlone, Tommy Hannon lived in Portlaoise for may years where he served as a highly-regarded member of An Garda Síochána.
And he was a hugely respected community leader too, heavily involved in a number of local community groups, particularly with the youth.
He played in an influential role in both the No Name Club and Foroige and is fondly remembered by those he came in touch with. As well as that he was a keen golfer and was a past captain of The Heath Golf Club.
Tom ‘Nasser’ Lalor
Tom ‘Nasser’ Lalor, one of the legendary figures of Portlaoise GAA club and a widely-loved character around the town, passed away in July.
A native of St Brigid’s Place in Portlaoise and a plumber by trade, he was aged in his 80s.
Fondly known as ‘Nasser’ he was a hugely influential figure in Portlaoise GAA, particularly in hurling circles, and was manager when the club made their big breakthrough in 1981 by winning their first senior title in 38 years.
AUGUST
Patsy Keating
The death of Patsy Keating (nee Lynch), a well-known and liked Portlaoise woman, occurred in August.
Mrs Keating, who lived in Fieldbrook on the Dublin Road, was a popular staff member in Laois County Council for a number of years.
Donnchadh Ó Riordáin
Mr Ó Riordáin was a native of Dromahane near Mallow in Cork but worked in Laois for a long number of years where he was highly regarded in educational and political circles.
He was a fluent Irish teacher, former principal of Mountrath Vocational School and very active in Fine Gael in Laois where he was heavily involved in various elections at local and national level.
Barbara Lawlor
Barbara (nee Breen) grew up in Portlaoise but worked and lived in Dublin with her husband Johnny Lawlor from Emo, and their family.
A staunch Fianna Fáil supporter, she was described by former TD Conor Lenihan as “a great friend, campaigner and source of advice to me during my 14 years in public life”.
Martin Delaney
Martin was a forester over many years and resided with his late wife Gladys in Johnsboro in the heart of the scenic Slieve-Bloom Mountains.
He was deeply involved in Irish music and when Ceolmhthas was going strong, Martin supplied the music and saw the All-Ireland title come to the Parish in the mid-1980s.
He had a great love of sport and his proudest moment was on Sunday September 15, 1996, when his grandson Martin – the son of his eldest son Martin – was presented with the Tom Markham cup.
SEPTEMBER
Larry Keenan
Larry Keenan, of Main Street, passed away peacefully on September 4 at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, surrounded by his devoted family.
Mr Keenan was the sacristan in Stradbally for many year, a role previously held by his mother.
He also worked as a caretaker in the former Scoil Aonghusa primary school and also in St Colman’s – where he is fondly remembered by staff and pupils alike.
Owen ‘Rake’ McDonald
Owen ‘Rake’ McDonald, from Colliers Lane in Portlaoise, passed away on Monday September 6.
Owen worked as a prison officer in the Midlands in Portlaoise and he is deeply regretted by his loving parents Mick and Phyllis, wife Anne-Marie, cherished daughter and son, Aoibhe and Conor, sister Tina and brother Brian.
Peter Carroll
For many years Peter Carroll was groundsman in O’Moore Park and a warm, witty, welcoming presence for anyone who frequented the ground – be it players, officials, supporters or press.
A much-loved character, he had a word for everyone. A proud Portlaoise GAA man, he was chairman of the juvenile club for a long number of years and alongside the late Bill Phelan they were a formidable duo. He also served as Laois Juvenile GAA vice-chairman.
A Telecom Eireann employee, the Carroll family, of which Peter is the last to pass away, were deeply involved in many areas of Portlaoise life. His brothers Joe and Bill were local councillors while Ned was a barber on Main Street.
OCTOBER
Sean O’Sullivan
The death of Seán O’Sullivan, the former long-serving and highly-respected principal of Pike-of-Rushall National School, occurred in October.
Originally from Lispole in West Kerry, Seán came to Laois in the mid 1950s and served as principal of the Rushall school, just off the old N7 main road. He and his wife Betty lived next to the school where they reared their family.
One of many Kerry men to come to this part of the country to play a significant role in education and sporting circles, Sean introduced many young Castletown players to hurling and had a bird’s eye view of the club’s golden era from 1995 to 2005.
Paddy Dowling
The Heath lost one of its oldest residents in October with the passing of Paddy Dowling, who was in his 96th year.
Predeceased by his loving wife Kathleen, his grandson Christopher and his sister Eileen Walshe (Kilbride), Paddy is deeply regretted by his loving family Marguerite (Gibson), Berni, Lilly (Ross), John, Tricia (Swayne), Eileen (Channing), Maureen (Downes), Paddy, Angela (Mangan), Ursula (Lenschow) and Fiona (Gaughan), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his sister Maureen Nerney, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Conor Montague
A Third Year Engineering student in UCD, Conor Montague sadly and unexpectedly passed away in October.
A very talented sportsperson, Conor excelled on the sports field too. With St Paul’s, he won championships at all levels from U-14 up to U-20 and also played at adult level for Emo.
Jim Cahill
The death occurred of former County Registrar and Returning Officer Jim Cahill in October.
Mr Cahill had a solicitor’s practise in Abbeyleix for many years. He passed away peacefully in the care of the staff of Brookhaven Nursing Home, Ballyragget.
Dearly loved husband of Germaine. Deeply missed by his children James, Rachel, Simon and David, his sister Maura, grandchildren Freddie, Daniel, Faye, Jennifer, Mia and Edward, daughters-in-law Sarah and Amanda, son-in-law Peter O’Callaghan.
Billy Dargan
Billy Dargan, from Harpurs Lane, passed peacefully at Portlaoise Regional Hospital in October.
A passionate Portlaoise and Laois GAA supporter, he is deeply regretted by his loving brother Tommy and sister in law Kate, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends, also all the staff at St Fintan’s Hospital.
Paddy Fitzpatrick
Paddy Fitzpatrick from Rosenallis was a highly-regarded former employee of Laois County Council, as well as renowned community man and a member of the famed Knights Showband of the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Fitzpatrick worked for Laois County Council for many year and was also heavily involved in local community life in Rosenallis and Mountmellick.
He was involved with the organisation of the famed Festival of the Mountain in Rosenallis and with the Mountmellick Development Association.
Dr Oonagh McKeagney
The death of Portarlington doctor Oonagh McKeagney, who was aged in her early 90s, occurred in October.
Mrs McKeagney, a native of Galway, and her husband Charles, who was also a doctor and originally from Tyrone, came to Portarlington in the early 1960s where they established a GP’s practice from their family home ‘Belmont’ on the town’s Main Street.
As well as the GP practice, they also had rural dispensaries in the likes of Emo and Ballybrittas.
Seamus Fleming
The death of Seamus Fleming, a native of The Swan, happened suddenly at the age of 72.
Mr Fleming was stationed as a Garda Síochána in Monaghan for many years where he lived with his family and ran a driving school after his retirement as a guard.
In Laois he’s remembered as a wonderfully talented footballer with club and county throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
NOVEMBER
Christy Paisley
The death occurred of Christy Paisley, the Portlaoise man who worked as caretaker of the local District Court for many years.
Christy (known fondly as ‘Chap’) only retired from his job in the District Court in 2017, an occasion that merited a special presentation and the presence of judges, solicitors, barristers, gardai and politicians.
Carol Miller
The death occurred of Carol Miller (nee O’Connor), from Ballickmoyler and formerly of Portlaoise, in early November.
Wife of the late Bobby Miller, Carol passed away peacefully at home on the 7th November 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved partner of Willie Mahon and much-loved mother of Barry, Alison, Anna and Grace and adored nana of Ruby and Marnie.
Carol will be dearly missed by her sisters Ber and Maeve as well as her partner, son, daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law Kevin and Alan, Barry’s partner Kirsty and Grace’s partner Tom.
Bill Lawlor
In his 94th year, Bill was fondly regarded across a range of communities and a real pillar of local life – both sporting and musical.
A very talented musician he was a great performer, able to sing and play numerous instruments. He was also a band leader and dance teacher. For many years he was manager of Denny’s in the town.
Daragh Lee
Daragh, who was a massive Shamrock Rovers support, played underage soccer and football in Mountmellick and his dad Mark is well-known on the local scene as an underage referee with the Midlands Schoolboy League.
He sadly passed away in November following a road traffic accident.
Ollie Payne
There was sadness in Mountmellick in November following the death of Ollie Payne, a man who contributing hugely to the town and community over a long number of years.
Ollie served as Fine Gael town councillor up until the abolishment of town councils in 2014 and was also heavily involved in Mountmellick GAA club, of which he was honorary president of up until his death.
Ollie played at all levels with Mountmellick in hurling and football, winning junior and intermediate hurling titles in 1966 and 1967 and an intermediate football in 1968.
DECEMBER
Des Browne
The death occurred of Des Browne senior, the man who established Browne’s Jewellers in Portlaoise and a man highy-regarded in business and sporting circles in Laois.
Mr Browne, aged 90, passed away peacefully at his home on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise.
Having worked in West’s Jewellers on Grafton Street in Dublin and later at O’Connor’s at Harold’s Cross, he the set up Des Browne Jewellers on Main Street in Portlaoise in 1963. The business is now run by his son Gerry and is one of the most prominent jewellers in the region.
Maisie Dunne
The death of Mary (Maisie) Dunne (nee Bowe) in her 96th year took place in December in the loving care of the staff of Oghill Nursing Home.
Formerly of Park, Stradbally, Co Laois, she lived in Kill, Monasterevin, for a long number of years with her husband Joe and three daughters Anne, Brigid and Mary.
She was predeceased by her husband Joe and brothers Mick, Tom and sister Annie. Much loved and cherished mother of Anne, Brigid and Mary. Lovingly remembered by her adored grandchildren, Eoin, Cormac, Pádraig, Aoife, Gráinne, Orla and Aoibhe. Also mourned by her sons in law Dominic and Donal, sister in law, nieces and nephew, relatives and friends.
Abe Kavanagh
The sudden death of the much-loved Abe Kavanagh on Christmas Day was a huge shock to those in Ballybrophy, Kilcotton and Borris-in-Ossory areas.
Described by Borris-Kilcotton GAA as “a great family man, friend, neighbour and supporter of all our teams and players, young and old”.
Deeply regretted by his loving wife Helen, sons John and his wife Niamh, Colm and his partner Mary, David and his partner Emily, daughters Sarah and her fiance Kieran, Alison and her partner J.P., grandsons A.J., Dylan, Cillian and Alfie, mother in law Lily, brothers in law and the extended Sheeran family, cousins, relatives, neighbours and his many friends.
Eddie Mulhall
The Emo community paid farewell to Eddie Mulhall in December, a highly-regarded man who was one of the founding members of the local GAA club and who served as secretary from its formation in 1956 right up to 1981.
Fondly known as ‘Neddie’, passed away in the early hours of Christmas Day in St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny.
Rory Culliton
Rory Culliton from Portlaoise – a man remembered as a gentleman and highly-respected in the local sport, business and community circles – passed away in December.
He was remembered at his funeral mass as a man who contributed widely to his community – as a former captain and president of The Heath Golf club, a member of the church choir in Portlaoise and for being heavily involved in the Failte Isteach group, which helped newcomers to Ireland learn English.
Denis Lowry
From Timahoe, Denis passed away, unexpectedly, in Saint James’ Hospital, Dublin, in the company of his loving family in late December.
Sadly missed by his heartbroken family, his wife Josephine, his daughters Claire, Anne Marie and Helen, son-in-law, Richie and Helen’s partner John, grandchildren Ollie and Ava, brother Pat, sisters Noreen, Catherine and Mary, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
SEE ALSO – Remembering some of the great Laois people who left us in 2020
