Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Tom Deegan
Harbour Street, Mountmellick, Laois
Tom Deegan Harbour Street Mountmellick died August 10th peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.
Tom (better known as The Digger Deegan (Retired Officer Irish Prison Service).
Pre deceased by his parents Lil and Jim Deegan, his brother Jack, his brothers in law Martin Walsh and John Moore, sister-in-law Mary Deegan, his niece Michelle and nephews Brendan and Kevin.
Deeply regretted by his loving wife Collette, his daughters Melissa, Rebecca and Krystal, his sons Trevor and Niall, his son-in-law Joe and daughter-in-law Carrie, his grandchildren Ciara Rose, Joe, Ben, Charlotte, Alex, Rosalei, Sarahlee and Ricardo, his brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, his aunty Kathleen, nieces and nephews, his best friend Philip Stewart, his many friends and good neighbours.
Reposing in Moloney’s Funeral Home, Mountmellick on Tuesday from 5pm. Recital of the Rosary at 8pm. Remoaval from his home on Thursday morning at 10.20am arriving to St Joseph’s Church, Mountmelllick for 11am Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Family flowers only. Donations if desired to Palliative Care (Laois Branch). House private on Thursday morning.
Funeral Mass can be viewed live on the parish webcam. https://www.mountmellickparish.ie/web-cam/
Margaret Shortiss (née Stadler)
Ossory Court, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois
Margaret Shortiss (nee Stadler) Ossory Court, Borris in Ossory Co. Laois and formerly Schattdorf Switzerland Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on 7th August. Aged 90. Predeceased by her husband Frank Shortiss, and daughter Charmaine Suter. Sadly missed and remembered with love by her family, Carina, John, Annemarie, Caroline, Patrick, Bertha and Maureen, Deeply regretted by her family, Brother Hans, sister and brothers in laws. Cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren, sons in law, daughters in law, nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Private family cremation has taken place. Interment of ashes will take place at Derrinsallagh Cemetery, Rathdowney Rd. Borris in Ossory at 12 noon on Thursday 14th August. Family flowers only. Donations if desired to the Irish Cancer Society.
John Kelly
Hillview House, Derry Road, Durrow, Laois
John, passed away peacefully at Brookhaven Nursing Home, Ballyragget , surrounded by his loving family.
Predeceased by his parents Martin and Stella, brother Kieran and sister Stella. Deeply regretted by his loving and devoted wife Teresa, sons Ian and Billy, daughters-in-law Denise and Noeline, John was a loving “ga ga” to Leah, Shannon, Lucy, Jack, Robin and Alex, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
John will repose at Ian and Denise’s, home (R32T2W0), Derry road, on Tuesday 12th August from 3pm with funeral prayers at 7pm. Removal from their home on Wednesday 13th August, arriving in Holy Trinity Church Durrow (R32CK11) for Funeral Mass at 2 pm, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
House private on Wednesday please.
Elizabeth ( Lil) Lawlor (née Dillion)
Graigue, Rathdowney, Laois/Galmoy, Kilkenny
Elizabeth (Lil) Lawlor (née Dillion) , Graigue, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, August 9th. 2025, peacefully at Midland’s Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.
Predeceased by her husband Tommy, her parents William and Elizabeth and her brothers and sisters Kitty, Bridget, Martin and Liam. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sons William and Joseph, sister Mary-Ann, brothers Jim, Jack, Bobby and Paddy, brothers-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Reposing at O’Sullivan’s Funeral Home Rathdowney (Eircode R32 NY24) on Monday evening from 5 o’clock until 7 o’clock. Removal from her residence on Tuesday morning to The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Galmoy arriving for Requiem Mass at 12 noon.
Interment afterwards in the adjoining Cemetery.
Messages of condolence can be placed on the page provided below. House private on Tuesday morning please.
Cornelius (Con) (Nelius) Kearney
Cuddagh, Castletown, Laois/Ardfert, Kerry
Cornelius (Con) (Nelius) Kearney, Cuddagh, Castletown, Co. Laois and formerly of Cloghers, Ardfert, Co. Kerry. Retired member of An Garda Síochána. Died August 9th 2025, unexpectedly but peacefully surrounded by his loving family at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Predeceased by his parents Jack and Margaret.
Con will be dearly missed by his loving and heartbroken family, his wife Ann (Cahill), daughter Hannah and son Darragh, his siblings John, Paddy, Jerry, Mary (Dalton), Anne and Brendan, sisters in law Kathleen, Bernie, Mary, Helen (Finnegan) and Frances (Guilbert), brother in law Liam, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Con will repose at Guilfoyle’s Funeral Home, Castletown, (Eircode R32TN84) this Monday evening (Aug 11th) from 7pm concluding with prayers at 9pm.
Removal from Guilfoyle’s Funeral Home, Castletown, on Tuesday morning (Aug 12th) at 10.50am to arrive at St. Edmund’s Church, Castletown (Eircode R32KT22) for Funeral Mass at 11am followed by burial in the Holy Trinity Church Graveyard, Durrow, Co. Laois (R32CK11).
Con’s Funeral Cortege will proceed via Cuddagh to Durrow.
Con’s Funeral Mass can be viewed on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/@St.EdmundsChurchCastleto-tw7el
Raúl Torrecilla Bañuelos
Donegal/Laois
It’s with great sadness that we announce the sad passing of Raùl Torrecilla Bañuelos, affectionately known as “Jefe”, who left us on the 7th August 2025 peacefully in hospital.
Beloved Husband to María José, devote father to Mamen, Raquel, Pilar and Javier, proud grandfather to Àlex, Sandra, TJ, Vera, Jamie, Àngela, Raquel and Barrabas, his sons and daughter in law Declan, Angel, David and Inma.
Raùl spent most of his life working in Madrid, yet his heart always remained close to his hometown of Haro, in Spain’s Rioja region. He enjoyed and cherished life’s simple pleasures – enjoying a good glass of wine, sharing stories with friends and making the most of days spent in good company.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His warmth, humour and unwavering love for those around him will remain in our hearts forever.
Raùl’s funeral will take place in Spain.
SEE ALSO – Deaths in Laois – Sunday, August 10, 2025
