Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Shiela Bennett (née Gorman)
Campclone, Ballyfin, Laois
Sheila Bennett, Campclone, Ballyfin, Co. Laois, 5th of February 2026, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her devoted family.
Predeceased by her husband, William, her infant son, also William, her sister Mary-Kate and her brothers, Michael and Thady.
Sheila will be sadly missed by her children, Margaret, Joe, Anne Marie, Síle, Sarah, Mary and her cherished grandchildren, William, Emma, Daniel B, Christine, Matthew, Colin, Daniel W, Adam, Julieann, Sophie, Anna, daughter-in-law, Bernie and sons-in-laws, Declan and Brendan and large circle of friends and neighbours.
Reposing at her son’s residence (Joe Bennett) at Skerry, Rosenallis (R32AHD2) from 12 noon, Friday, 6th February. Rosary at 8pm.
Funeral mass at 11am on Saturday, 7th February in St. Fintan’s Catholic Church, Ballyfin.
Cremation at 12 noon on Monday, 9th February at Newlands Cross Crematorium.
Family flowers only.
Betty (Elizabeth) Brennan (née Holohan)
Coolbally, Clough, Laois
Betty (Elizabeth) Brennan (Née Holohan), Coolbally, Clough, Ballacolla, Co. Laois,February 4th. 2026, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her beloved husband Jim, her parents Patrick and Margaret, son Thomas (who died in infancy) and her brother Michael. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sons Tom, Pat, Seamus and Kevin, daughters-in-law Gráinne, Margaret, Caroline and Caroline, her adored grandchildren James, Kieran, Maeve, Kate, Padraigh, Thomas, Ella, C.J., Rebecca, Bríd, Colm, Fergal, Canice, Sorcha and Caoimhe, sister-in-law Rita, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Reposing at her residence Coolbally, Clough (Eircode R32 CP83) on Friday afternoon February 6th. from 4 o’clock until 8 o’clock. Removal on Saturday morning to St. Canice’s Church, Clough arriving for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Interment afterwards in Clough Cemetery. Messages of condolence can be placed on the page provided below.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW REQUIEM MASS
Bridget Cashin (née Dowling)
The Course, Durrow, Laois/Kilkenny
Bridget passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family while under the wonderful care of the medical staff of Abbeyleix Community Nursing Unity.
Bridget is predeceased by her husband Morgan. She is deeply regretted and will be sadly missed by her children John, Paul and Morgan, her daughters in law Cathleen, Mary and Diane, her sister in law Breda, her nine adoring grandchildren Morgan, Rhea, Keith, Nicky, Paul, Ryan, Declan, Beth and Megan, her great grandchildren Kai, Ezra, Lily, Odhrán, Archer and Cora, The O’Brien family, Castleroe, Maganey, her nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
Bridget will repose in The Church of the Holy Trinity, Durrow, Co. Laois (R32 CK11) on Friday 6th February 2026 from 5pm pausing for the Rosary at 7pm. Requiem Mass will be on Saturday 7th February 2026 at 11am with burial immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Family flowers only donations in lieu to Friends of the District Hospital Abbeyleix.
Martin McEvoy
Raggetstown, Ballinakill, Laois/Abbeyleix, Laois
Martin passed away peacefully in The Little Sisters of the Poor Ferrybank,Waterford,with his nieces by his side.
Predeceased by his sisters Julie,Teresa, Eileen and brothers Patrick and Michael.
Martin will be greatly missed by his loving sisters Mary,Ann and Kathleen,sister in law Una and his many nieces and nephews who held him in great affection,his cousins,good neighbours and friends.
Reposing on Thursday 5th February at The Chapel of Rest adjoining The Church of The Most Holy Rosary Abbeyleix from 5pm to 7pm with Prayers at 7pm.
Funeral Mass on Friday 6th February at 11am at St.Brigid’s Church Ballinakill which can be viewed on the link http://www.ballinakillknockparish.com Burial afterwards in St.Brigid’s Cemetery.
Marian McMahon (née Smyth)
Garrons, Stradbally, Laois, R32RY77/Wolfhill, Laois
The death has occurred of Marian McMahon (nee Smyth), Garrons, Stradbally, Co Laois (formerly Aughadreen Wolfhill)
Marian passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on 2/2/2026.
Predeceased by her husband Jimmy, son John grandsons Brian and Keith, granddaughter Marian O’ Shea. Deeply regretted by her sons Bernard (Clare), John’s wife Marie, Jim (Ailish), Paddy (Bernie), TJ (Mary), Paul (Siobhan) and Anthony, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Also remembered by the O’Malley, Jackson, Moran family and family of the late Sarah and Joe.
Reposing at her home, in Garrons R32 RY77 on Wednesday 4th February from 3pm concluding with rosary at 8pm. Funeral mass on Thursday 5th February in Sacred Heart Church, Stradbally at 12noon followed by burial in Oakvale Cemetery, Stradbally.
Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to Laois Hospice, donation box in house and church.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Marian’s carers especially Charlotte for their tenderness and care over the years, Stradbally GP practice and Palliative Care Service.
Sarah Delaney (née nee Mortimer)
Millmount Place, Drumcondra, Dublin/Clonaslee, Laois
The death has occurred of Sarah Delaney nee Mortimer in her 98th year of 7 Millmount Place, Drumcondra, Dublin and formerly of Tinnahinch Clonaslee and Coole, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare on 30th January 2026 in the care of Nazareth House, Nursing Home, Malahide Road, Dublin surrounded by her loving family and best friend Betty Daly.
Predeceased by her husband Daniel, her parents Elizabeth and Michael, her brothers John, James, Michael and Pat and her sisters Mary, Sr. Elizabeth Michael, Sr. Bridget, Essie and Elizabeth.
Deeply regretted by Daniel Delaney and Ailish Delaney, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, great grand nieces and great grand nephews.
Reposing Moloney’s Funeral Home Mountmellick (R32 PC95) this evening from 7pm. Recital of The Rosary at 8pm. Reposing in the funeral home on Thursday from 10am. Removal at 11.15 to St.Manman’s Church, Clonaslee for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in St.Brigid’s Cemetery Rosenallis.
Funeral Mass can be viewed on
Seamus Gilligan
Cappoquin, Waterford/Ballyfin, Laois
GILLIGAN: Shanbally, Cappoquin and formerly of Brockra, Ballyfin, Co. Laois.
On 30th January 2026, passed unexpectedly and peacefully at WUH surrounded by his loving family. Seamus, beloved son of the late Martin and Sarah Gilligan and brother of the late Martin and Sean.
Deeply regretted by his loving wife Mary (Née O’Keeffe), sons Alan, Martin and Jamie, daughter Aisling, their respective partners Jason, Laura and Natanya, his beloved grandchildren Darcie, Tara and Lisa Leighton, Tiernan, Cameron and Khaleesi, his beloved siblings, Mary, Sadie, Theresa and Pauric and their partners, along with all his extended O’Keeffe and Gilligan family, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Lying in repose at Aidan Walsh & Sons Funeral Home, Cappoquin (Eircode P51 DH76) on Wednesday evening February 4th from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
Funeral Mass on Thursday morning February 5th at 11.00 am in St. Mary’s Church, Cappoquin (Eircode P51 Y898).
Followed by burial in Our Lady of Assumption Church Yard Cemetery, Modeligo, Cappagh (Eircode X35 XW73)
Seamus’s Funeral Mass can be viewed through the following link (live only) https://mcn.live/Camera/st-marys-church-cappoquin
Donations in lieu to Headway Ireland can be made through the link below; https://headway.ie/support-us/donate/
SEE ALSO – Deaths in Laois – Thursday, February 5, 2026
