Remembering some of the great Laois people who sadly left us in 2024

1st January 2025

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 2025, please get in touch and we would be happy to carry a piece.

May everyone who was lost in 2024 Rest in Peace.

JANUARY

Richard Doyle

There was sadness in Laois, Meath and Tipperary at the start of the year following the passing of a well-known Laois business owner.

Richard Doyle, of Blackhall Little, Kilcloon, Meath, formerly of Bansha in Tipperary, was well known in Laois as the owner of Doyle’s Shoes.

Fr Brendan Howard

There was sadness in Laois and Carlow following the passing of Very Rev Brendan J Howard PE.

Fr Howard was well known in Laois as before he became a priest, he was the principal of a secondary school.

Back then, he was a Christian Brother and led Portlaoise CBS out of their original home in Towerhill.

JJ Treacy

There was sadness in Emo, The Heath and the wider communities at the death of JJ Treacy, a hugely respected man in the area. He was aged in his early 80s.

A former chairman of Emo GAA and a part of the club’s only championship-winning side in 1972, he was a diehard club member.

A well-regarded farmer, he was known for his good humour and for being good company, a man who had a word for everyone who crossed his path, be it in farming, sporting or community circles.

David McDonald

There is deep sadness following the passing of a young Laois man who died in New Zealand after a brief illness.

David McDonald of Derrydavy, Mountmellick, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the care of the nurses and doctors in Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand.

Mr McDonald, who had previously worked in St Vincent’s hospital in Mountmellick, had been living for some years in New Zealand with his partner Flavio.

Kay Corcoran

There is sadness in Stradbally following the passing of Kathleen (Kay) Corcoran who previously worked as a primary school teacher.

Originally from Naas in Kildare, Kay came to Stradbally in the 1970s when she married her husband, the late Jim.

She worked in Stradbally BNS throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and into the new millennium.

FEBRUARY

Katie Graham

There was deep sadness at the start of February following the passing of Katie Graham.

Aged 19, Katie was from Ballinagall, Ballickmoyler, and was killed following a car crash in Carlow.

Ann Delaney

There was sadness in February following the passing of a Laois woman who died while sleeping rough in Dublin.

Ann Delaney, 47, from Crettyard, was very well known and liked in Dublin and tributes poured in on social media following news of her passing.

MARCH

Christy Cahill

There was great sadness around Portlaoise and beyond as news emerged of the sad passing of a local legend.

Christy Cahill of St Brigid’s Place, Portlaoise and late of Orchard, Timahoe, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, March 9.

There was sadness in the small rural communities of Arles and Ballickmoyler in March at the passing of Betty O’Kelly, the popular local publican whose family have run O’Kelly’s pub for a long number of years.

A landmark on the N80 in the village of Ballickmoyler, Betty was a warm and welcoming presence behind the counter in O’Kellys over the years.

Alan Langton

A small rural Laois area was left stunned by the sudden death of one of the community’s most active members.

Alan Langton from Barrowhouse, a man hugely respected in GAA circles and a highly-regarded financial planner, passed away suddenly in March. He was aged 52.

He was a former member of Laois GAA, having served as both football board chairman and juvenile chairman in the last 15 years or so.

Tom Mulhall

The death occurred of Tom Mulhall from Emo, a former Cathaoirleach of Laois County County Council and a Fine Gael councillor from 2009-2021.

Mr Mulhall is survived by his wife Bridget, daughter Una, son Niall, son-in-law Gavin, grandchildren Alison and Daniel, brother Eamon, sister Ann (Moloney) and a wide circle of family and friends. He was aged 71.

Mr Mulhall, who was Cathaoirleach in 2016-2017, retired from his council seat on health grounds in 2021.

Jackie Behan

There was sadness in the Ballickmoyler, Killeen and Arles areas at the death of Jackie Behan, a man hugely respected in the area.

Mr Behan was 84 years of age and had been living and farming in the area since he moved there more than 50 years ago.

Liam Doran

The death occurred of Liam Doran from Killeshin, a man regarded as one of the finest Laois footballers of his era.

Liam, who represented Leinster in the Railway Cup in 1964, played centre-back for Laois in Leinster finals in 1959 and 1963 and captained Killeshin to Junior ‘A’ and Intermediate football success in 1957 and 1958 respectively.

Ger Clancy

The death occurred of well-known Athy publican Ger Clancy and one of the town’s most decorated sports stars. He was aged in his late 60s.

Ger was the proprietor of the iconic and very popular Clancy’s bar in the centre of the town, an establishment that was also run by his parents going back decades.

Mick Behan

There was sadness in the Courtwood, Rath and Ballybrittas communities in March with the news of the death of Mick Behan, a hugely popular figure in the area.

From the well-known and far-reaching Behan family from Belgrove, Mick passed away peacefully in his home in Belgrove surrounded by his loving family.

A staunch Courtwood GAA man, he was an ever-present figure around the club for the last half a century, beginning his playing days in the mid 1960s.

APRIL

Paddy Macken

The death occurred of Paddy Macken, a former Laois County Council official who was highly regarded and is remembered for his warmth and decency for those he dealt with over the years.

A native of Athlone in Westmeath, he worked in Laois County Council for a long number of years and is particularly fondly associated with his time as the assistant county librarian, where his generosity and kindness were very much to the fore.

Liam Adams

The death occurred of Liam Adams in Portlaoise, a well-known local pharmacist who was highly regarded in the area.

Liam and his wife Roisin were behind the Adams Pharmacy business, which had shops in Tullamore and Portlaoise for a long number of years.

Mark Walsh

Mark Walsh, a Portlaoise resident, died tragically in April in a workplace accident in Kilbeggan in Westmeath.

Mr Walsh, who lived in Esker Hills in Portlaoise, was originally from Daingean in Offaly. He worked for a number of years as a very popular instructor in Portlaoise Leisure Centre prior to moving to work in the plant hire industry.

Eithne Burns

There was great sadness in Mountmellick following the death of Eithne Burns the town’s retired Postmistress, who served in the role for a long number of years.

Ms Burns, who was 89, is remembered as an astute business woman and for her courtesy and professionalism in serving the community for decades.

MAY

Declan McDermott

There was deep sadness in Killeshin following the passing of Declan McDermott – a ‘cherished’ member of the community.

A long serving employee of Proctor & Gamble, Mr McDermott was heavily involved with Killeshin GAA.

JUNE

Jim Whelehan

There was widespread shock at the death of Jim Whelehan, a native of Killenard but a long-time resident of Timahoe where he has been embedded in the community for the best part of 40 years.

From the well-known Killenard family, Jim worked in Bord na Mona all his adult life before getting involved in the funeral business in recent years where he worked alongside his brother Willie. He also drove a bus for the St Francis school in Portlaoise.

Vera Kavanagh

Mrs Kavanagh, originally from Dacklin, Carrick-on-Shannon, in Roscommon, was the proprietor of the Wrens Nest pub on Main Street in Portlaoise.

Vera and her late husband PJ Snr ran the iconic bar for many years before it passing it to their son PJ Jnr.

Kathleen Rigney

There was sadness in Portlaoise following the passing of Kathleen Rigney (née Hughes) from St Brigid’s Place.

Kathleen, and her husband Mick who passed away in 2016, the pair of them reared arguably one of the most sporting families in Portlaoise and even Laois.

Hughie Sheppard

Hughie was a giant of a figure in his beloved Durrow, working tirelessly over the years on many community projects.

The very essence of a community man, he displayed huge vision as a driving force behind many projects – and had a boundless enthusiasm for anything he got involved in.

Joe Cunneen

The death occurred of Joe Cunneen, the Portlaoise-based business man who established Centrepoint Carpets.

Originally from Cork, Mr Cunneen opened Centrepoint Carpets in February 1990 after Shaws shut down their carpet section.

A quintessential family business, it is now run by Joe’s son David, though Joe remained a warm and welcoming presence. His sense of humour and decency was a trademark with staff and customers alike.

Patrick ‘Sharkey’ Kirwan

The death occurred of Patrick Kirwan in June, fondly known far and wide by his nickname ‘Sharkey’.

Though a long-time resident in Portarlington where he was settled with his wife Caroline and daughters Emily and Anna, he very much a proud Emo man.

For a long number of years he was the Emo football goalkeeper, playing alongside a number of his brothers as Emo reached the 1994 senior final. He also won two U-21 county medals and remained a loyal supporter of the club.

JULY

Kate O’Shea

The death occurred of Kate O’Shea after a short illness, a Portarlington-based auctioneer, who was highly respected in her industry.

Professional, courteous and hard-working Kate ran her own business – Kate O’Shea Auctioneers and Valuers based in Portarlington.

Mick Carroll

Aged in his early 80s, Mick Carroll made a huge contribution to his communities over the years, particularly in sporting and business circles.

Mick initially ran a quarry business in Timahoe, supplying sand and gravel all across the region – before buying a pub in Durrow in the mid 1980s, which he and his wife Angela ran for almost 20 years.

SEPTEMBER

Robbie Moore

Only aged in his early 40s, Robbie Moore passed away having battled with sickness over the past couple of years.

A hugely popular member of the community, Robbie was immersed in local life, a large part of Stradbally Town soccer club and a successful underage player with Stradbally GAA where he won underage championship medals with a fine group of players.

Ciaran ‘Bobo’ Lawal

There was sadness in Laois at the end of September following the passing of Ciaran ‘Bobo’ Lawal.

From Station Road in Portlaoise and a much-loved character, Ciaran passed away suddenly and peacefully at his home.

NOVEMBER

Sean Bergin

There was sadness in the Camross community following the death of the hugely popular and well-respected local publican Sean Bergin, proprietor of the Camross Inn.

Publican, farmer, community man, he ran the Camross Inn with his wife Pauline and it has been a hub of local life in the area for decades.

Ned Ryan

Aged in his early 20s, Ned Ryan passed away in November following a long battle with illness.

A teacher and a talented sports person, Ned represented St Paul’s at juvenile level and Laois in football at all grades up to minor.

John Joe ‘Old Timer’ Ging

John Joe ‘Old Timer’ Ging passed away suddenly in mid November at his home on Greenmill Lane in the town, opposite the old Dunne’s Stores, aged in his late 70s.

A good-humoured, much-loved character, he had the distinction of being captain of the Portlaoise hurling team that achieved their breakthrough success in 1981, ending a 43-year wait since their previous county championship triumph.

DECEMBER

Tony O’Kelly

There was sadness in the small rural communities of Arles and Ballickmoyler following the passing of Tony O’Kelly.

He was the popular local publican whose family have run O’Kelly’s pub for a long number of years.

My O’Kelly, who was originally from Killeshin, passed away on December 10, almost exactly six months after his late wife Betty.