Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Liam McArdle
Court View, Stradbally, Laois
The death has occurred of Liam McArdle, 8 Court View, Stradbally, Co. Laois, peacefully on the 31st of December 2025 at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise surrounded by his devoted and beloved wife Bernadette and family. Predeceased by his parents, Bill and Nellie.
Liam will be sadly missed and forever loved by his wife Bernadette, daughters, Colette, Bernice, Natalie and Amanda and his son Liamus, sister Kay, brother Pat, his adored grandchildren, Gary, Jamie, Darragh, Tadhg, Anna, Ben, Aoibheann and Vanessa, sister-in-law Dympna, brothers-in-law Aidan and Bernard, sons-in-law Ivan, David, Seamus and Benny, nieces, nephews, extended family, kind neighbours and his many friends.
Liam will repose at the Presentation Chapel, Stradbally on Friday (2nd Jan 2026) at 6pm with Recital of the Rosary at 8pm. Requiem Mass will take place in the Sacred Heart Church, Stradbally on Saturday (3rd Jan 2026) at 11am and afterwards Liam will be laid to rest in Oakvale Cemetery, Stradbally. House Private Please.
Liam’s Funeral Mass can be viewed on the Stradbally Parish Webcam: https://svtparish.ie/webcam
Antonia Tas (née van Olst)
The Glebe Road, Coolrain, Laois
The Glebe Road, Coolrain, Portlaoise, Co. Laois and formerly Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Antonia passed away peacefully on the 31st December 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her son Martin.
Sadly, missed and remembered by her husband Willem, daughter Jackie (Mortimer), son-in-law Declan, grandchildren Louie, Davie, Aisling and Tamara, great-granddaughters Saoirse, Éabha and Fiadh, Aisling’s husband Kieran and all of her extended family and friends.
Reposing at Burke’s Funeral Home Mountrath eircode R32Y661 on Thursday evening 1st January 2026, from 7.0’clock until 8.0’clock. Removal on Friday afternoon 2nd January to St. Fergal’s Cemetery Camross, for a Committal Service at 3.0’clock.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the palliative care team and Antonia’s carers
Family flowers only, donations if desired to the Cuisle Centre Portlaoise.
Sam Owens
Rath, Ballybrittas, Laois/Rathangan, Kildare
Formerly of Sally Mills, Rathangan County Kildare. Peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his parents Bernard and Philomena, sister Annette and baby brother Ronald.
Deeply regretted by his loving wife Louise, daughter Louise, sons Thomas and Michael, brothers Bernard and Michael, grandchildren Callum, Michael, Maisie, Donnacha, Janey and Aimee, daughters-in-law Mary and Denise, son-in-law David brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Reposing at his residence (eircode R32 W9Y5) on Friday evening 2nd January from 3pm with Rosary at 7pm. Removal on Saturday 3rd January at 10:30am arriving The Sacred Heart Church Rath Ballybrittas (eircode R32 FN44) for Requiem Mass at 11am. Funeral afterwards to the New Cemetery Emo.
Family Flowers Only, Please. House Private on Saturday Morning, Please.
Clem Whyte
Ballynevin, Cullohill, Laois
Clem Whyte, Ballynevin, Cullohill, Co. Laois December 29th 2025 unexpectedly. Predeceased by his mother May.
Sadly missed and remembered with love by his three children Orlaith, Éadaoin and Jimmy and their mother Marie, his dad Tommy, brother Joe, sisters Geraldine, Mary-Paul, Helen and Lourda, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and a wide circle of friends.
Reposing at his residence Ballynevin, Cullohill, (Eircode R32 YY22) on Thursday afternoon January 1st. from 3 o’clock pausing for prayers at 7 o’clock. Removal on Friday morning to St. Tighearnach’s Church, Cullohill arriving for Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock. Interment afterwards in the adjoining Cemetery.
Michael Farrell
47 Pattison Estate, Mountmellick, Laois
Michael Farrell 47 Pattison, Estate Mountmellick died peacefully December 29th 2025.
Beloved son of the late Michael and Annie. Predeceased by his sisters Anne and Maureen.
Deeply regretted by his loving wife Bridget and his sons Darren and Denise, Michael and Eleanor and Ray and Mary, grandchildren Cian, Megan, Caylin, Isabel, Ryan, Conor and Jackson, sisters Eileen and Bernadette, sisters-in-law, brothers,in-law nieces, nephews, neighbours, relatives and his many friends.
Reposing in Moloney’s Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6pm. Recital of The Rosary at 7.30. Reposing in Moloneys on Thursday from 10am. Removal at 10.45am to St. Joseph’s Church, Mountmellick for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial after in St.Josephs Cemetery.
Andy Dowling
Borris Rd, Portlaoise, Laois
Andy Dowling, Borris Rd., Portlaoise 29th December 2025. Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Liz and loving father to Andrew and Claire. And cherished grandfather to Cian and the late adored grandson Dylan.
Predeceased by his sister Kathleen and brother Jack. Deeply regretted by his loving family. Sisters Maureen O`Keeffe and Madge Dalton. Brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, neighbours and a large circle of former work colleagues and friends.
Reposing at Keegans Funeral Home on this Tuesday evening from 5 pm until 8 pm with rosary at 7.30 pm. Removal on Wednesday to arrive at SS Peter and Paul’s Church for 11 am requiem mass. Interment will follow in SS Peter and Paul’s Cemetery, Portlaoise.
Seamus Wrenn
Portarlington, Laois/Drumcondra, Dublin
Seamus Wrenn. Formerly of Drumcondra, Dublin and Portarlington Co. Offaly.
Passed peacefully in the exceptional care of St Joseph’s nursing home Raheny.
Sadly missed and remembered with love by his devoted wife Margaret. Seamus will be forever loved and missed by his sister Philomena Tynan, her son Gerard and her daughter Teresa Keogh and Teresa’s husband Charlie and their children Karen and Cathal Keogh in addition to nephews Joseph and Frank Malone, cousin Charlie Wrenn, sister-in-law Florence Mc Cabe and the McCabe and Flanagan families.
Reposing in Moloney’s Funeral Home Mountmellick (R32 PC95) on Wednesday from 10am. Removal at 10.45am to St. Joseph’s Church Mountmellick for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial after in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Mass will be live-streamed via the parish webcam https://www.mountmellickparish.ie
Gladys Dorothy McClean (née Colclough)
Rossmore, Errill, Laois/Freshford, Kilkenny
Gladys Dorothy McClean (née Colclough), Rossmore, Errill, Co. Laois and formerly Freshford, Co. Kilkenny, peacefully in the loving care of nurses and staff at University Hospital Portlaoise in the presence of her loving family. Predeceased by her husband Thomas John McClean, her sisters Mary Tanner and Betty Moynan.
Sadly missed and remembered with love by her daughter Margaret, son William, son-in-law Tommy, daughter-in-law Johanna, grandchildren Linda, Philip and Gary McKay, Jonathan, Robert, Thomas and William McClean, great grandchildren Matthew and Daniel (Carter), Aria and Oisín McKay, brothers Robert and George Colclough, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Reposing at her residence Rossmore, Errill, Co. Laois (Eircode R32 XH28) on Wednesday afternoon from 2 o’clock with prayers at 7 o’clock. Removal takes place on Thursday January 1st to St. Andrew’s Church, Rathdowney arriving for funeral service at 2pm. Interment afterwards in the Local Cemetery, Rathdowney.
Mary Fleming (née Multany)
Millquarter, Monaseed, Gorey, Wexford/Clonaslee, Laois
Mary Fleming (née Multany) Millquarter, Monaseed, Gorey, Co. Wexford and formerly of Clonaslee, Co. Laois. Died 30th December 2025 peacefully at Gorey District Hospital. Beloved wife of David and loving sister of Jane, Margaret and the late Charlie.
Deeply regretted by her loving husband, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours.
Mary will be reposing at Floods Funeral Home, McDermott Street, Gorey (eircode Y25E8D4) on Wednesday (31st December) from 5.00pm to 7.00pm. Removal will take place on Thursday (1st January) at 11.15am to St. Brendan’s Church, Monaseed, Gorey for Funeral Mass at 12.00noon. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
John Delaney
Kiln Lane, Mountrath, Laois
John passed away suddenly on Sunday 28th December 2025, surrounded by his loving family, at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise. Predeceased by his beloved wife Denise, mother Mary, father Joe and brother Tommy.
John will be forever loved and missed by his loving daughters Rachel and Ruth, and their partners Dillon and Andrew, grandchildren Séan and Riley, mother-in-law, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, his wide circle of friends, neighbours and many work colleagues over the years.
Reposing at Burke’s Funeral Home Mountrath eircode R32Y661 on Tuesday evening 30th December from 6.0’clock, concluding with Rosary at 8.0’clock. Removal on Wednesday morning 31st December to St, Fintan’s Church Mountrath eircode R32X338, for Requiem Mass at 10.0’clock, followed by Interment on St. Fintan’s Cemetery Mountrath.
John’s Requiem Mass will be live streamed on www.mountrathparish.ie
Family Flowers only please, donations if desired to The Friends of Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.
SEE ALSO – Deaths in Laois – Thursday, January 1, 2025
