Rathdowney is in mourning this week following the sad passing of the well-known and well respected community man.
Kieran O’Sullivan, of The Showgrounds, sadly passed away following an illness on Saturday, April 15.
Kieran, who runs O’Sullivan Funeral Services, is sadly missed by his loving wife Mary and daughters Sarah and Louise.
Tributes have flooded for Mr O’Suillivan, who was aged in his 50s, with Fine Gael Councillor John King remembering his fondly.
Cllr King said: “This is a black day for Rathdowney and Kieran will be sadly missed.
“I worked closely alongside Kieran with St Vincent de Paul and I can say that he is a huge loss to his family, the people of Rathdowney and the wider community.
“Kieran’s parents moved into Rathdowney and they actually started one of the first supermarkets in Rathdowney.
“Times moved on and they opened a shop on Moore Street but then Kieran took that on and started an undertaking business.
“He also worked in Midland Hardware but Kieran was a big community man and was heavily involved in a lot of good things in Rathdowney – often in a discreet way.
“He was one of the key men in St Vincent de Paul and did a lot of things for people that others never knew about. He was deeply kind.
“He had all sorts of other interests too. He was into brewing beer, ponies, show dogs, wildlife and he was a brilliant family man who loved to help people in need.
“As an undertaker, he was extremely professional in his work and also offered an embalming service.
“He did many funerals in Rathdowney, Ballacolla, Clough, Galmoy, Errill, Borris-In-Ossory – all down Tipperary and into Kilkenny.
“He was the funeral director for my parents and he had a way about him to make families feel at ease.
“I am very sorry for his loss and my condolences are with his family.”
Kieran is predeceased by his parents Michael and Mai.
He is sadly missed by his sisters Margaret (Delaney), Kay (O’Connell), Ann (Koch), Ellen (Delaney) and Rose (Barrett), brothers-in-law Jimmy, Tom, Frank, Noel, Dan, Liam, Michael, Paul, Colin, mother-in-law Tessie Bell, Sarah’s partner Declan, uncle Fintan, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Kieran’s Funeral Mass is on Wednesday (today) at 12 noon in The Church of The Holy Trinity, Rathdowney (https://www.parishwebsites.ie/rathdowney/).
This will be followed by burial in Bealady Cemetery. House Private. Family flowers only.
Donations in memory of Kieran can be made to The Irish Cancer Society.
The family would like to sincerely thank all the doctors, nurses and staff of St. James’s Hospital and the Laois/Offaly Palliative Care Team for their wonderful care of Kieran.
May Kieran Rest in Peace.
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