Below are the recent local deaths.
May they rest in peace.
Fergus Dempsey
Glenbarrow, Portlaoise, Laois, R32C44T/Tallaght, Dublin
Fergus Dempsey, Glenbarrow, Portlaoise and formerly Springfield, Tallaght, 27th January 2026. Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Dearly loved husband to his heartbroken wife Margaret. Loving father to Martina, Lisa and Deborah, sons in law Eddie and Phillip. Cherished grandfather to Alannah, Cían, Ryan, Brandon, Jamie, Dylan, Luke, Emma and Honey, Alannah’s partner Andre, great-grandson Miles, extended family, relatives and friends. Predeceased by his parents, John and Kathleen, sister Mary, brothers Richard, Séan, Anthony and Brian. Deeply regretted by his brother Paul, sisters Joan and Anne.
Reposing at his family home (R32C44T) on Sunday, 1st Feb., from 5 pm until 8 pm. followed by Rosary. Funeral Mass on Monday at 11am in St Peter and Paul’s Church, Portlaoise followed by cremation in Mount Jerome at 1.45 pm. House private please all day Saturday and on Monday morning. Family flowers only please.
Funeral mass may be viewed on webcam www.portlaoiseparish.ie/webcam/
Jeremiah Anthony (Tony) Kavanagh
Thornberry, Abbeyleix, Laois
Suddenly on the 28th of January. Predeceased by his parents Jerry and Joan and his sister Marian.
Sadly missed by his sisters Carmen and Geraldine, brothers Val and Sean, brothers-in-law Henk and Patsy, sister-in-law Chris, nephews P.J., Eoghan, Sean and Liam, nieces Zita and Orla, grandnieces, aunts and uncles extended family neighbours and friends.
Lying in repose on Saturday at the chaple of Repose adjoining the Church of the Most Holy Rosary Abbeyleix from 6.30pm. to 8pm.with Prayers at 6.30. Requiem Mass on Sunday at 11am. Followed by a private family cremation.
Colette Dwane
Mill Court, Portlaoise, Laois
Colette Dwane, Glenregan, Mountmellick rd. Portlaoise. 29th January Peacefully surrounded by her friends and family. Daughter of the late Stephen, and predeceased by her nephew, Aaron. Loving daughter to Philomena. Dearly loved sister to Joe, Esther, Stephanie, Philomena, Lorraine, Thelma, Mandy, Keith, Therese, Stephen, David, Irene, Debbie and Yvette. Deeply regretted by her loving family. Nephews, nieces , grandnephews, grandnieces, her loving carers and friends at Glenregan.
Reposing at her mothers residence at Mill Court (R32A5NT) on this Friday evening from 4 pm until rosary at 7 pm. Removal on Saturday to arrive at SS Peter and Paul’s Church for 2 pm requiem mass. Interment will follow in SS Peter and Paul’s Church, Portlaoise.
Peter Kelly
Stradbally Rd., Portlaoise, Laois
Peter Kelly, Breffni, Stradbally Road, Portlaoise and formerly Roscrea.
Peacefully, in the excellent care of the staff of Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home, surrounded by his loving family. Dearly loved husband of Lena (nee Murtagh) and loving father to Aidan, Declan, Colm and Mairead. Sadly missed by his loving wife and family, daughters-in-law Niamh, Nuala, Emer and son-in-law Richard; cherished grandchildren, Conor, Gillian, Alison, Mark, Anna, Kate, David and Eva; step-grandchildren, Luan and Theo. Predeceased by his brothers Alfie, Noel and Michael. Sadly missed by his brother Donal and sister Moyna, sisters-in-law, Sadie, Maureen and Nora, nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and former colleagues in the ESB.
Lying in repose on Friday, January 30th at Keegan’s Funeral Home, Dublin Road, Portlaoise (R32Y368)) from 6.30pm to 8pm with Rosary at 7.30. Requiem Mass on Saturday at 11am in St. Peter and Paul’s Church, Portlaoise (R32 R684): https://www.portlaoiseparish.ie/webcam/. Interment in St Peter and Paul’s Cemetery.
Grace Sheridan (née O’Doherty)
Stoneyhaven Dunmore, Durrow, Laois/Dublin
Passed away peacefully after a long illness at St. Brigids Hospice Kildare. Beloved wife of Joe and loving mother to Emily and Joseph, sister to Paul and Barry, sister-in-law to Francy. Deeply regretted by her family, extended family, relatives and friends.
Reposing at the Chapel of Rest adjoining the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Abbeyleix on Friday from 5pm. with Prayers at 6pm. Removal to Newlands Cross Crematorium, Dublin. for 10.30 am.service on Saturday.
Special word of thanks to the staff of Tullamore Hospital and the staff of St. Brigid’s Hospice Kildare.
Kathleen (Kit) Farrell (née Walsh)
‘Hillcrest’, 6 Kilkenny Road, Ballylinan, Laois, R14 Y927/Athy, Kildare
Peacefully, surrounded by her loving family in the loving care of the staff of The Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.
Predeceased by her husband Tom and sons Jimmy and Ciaran. Deeply regretted by her loving sons Ted and Micheál, daughter Anna Marie, sister Anna, sister-in-law Sheila, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Reposing at her residence (R14 Y927) from 12 noon on Thursday (January 29th) until the conclusion of the Rosary at 8pm.
Removal at 10.45am on Friday morning (January 30th) to arrive at St. Anne’s Church, Ballylinan for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in Ballylinan Cemetery.
Maura Lawler (née Bergin)
Derrykearn, Abbeyleix, Laois
Maura died peacefully January 24th 2026. Reunited once more with her beloved parents, sisters and brothers.
Much loved wife of Gerard, mother to Póilín, Geraldine (de Búrca) and John. Adored grandma to Carolyn, Éadaoin, Gráinne, Seán, Vincent, Séamus, Hayden and Michael, and great-grandma to Liam. Remembered with love by her sisters Pat, Kathleen and Philomena and extended family.
No flowers or cards please. House private.
Funeral Arrangements Later.
Sheila Amond (née Kinsella)
Raheendoran, Carlow/Laois
Sheila Amond (née Kinsella) of 4 Raheendoran, Carlow and formerly of Ballyhide, Co Laois, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on January 26th, 2026 at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny.
Beloved wife of Sean, much loved mother of Noel, Roseanne, Michael and Aileen, adored grandmother of Christopher, Chloe, Jack, Daniel, Grainne, Molly, Lily and Bobby Joe, cherished great-grandmother of Leia, Blossom, Elijah, Ariel, Robin and Darcie and treasured sister of Pat.
She will be sadly missed by her loving husband, sons, daughters, grandchildren and their partners Lola, Tommy and Caitlin, great-grandchildren, brother, son-in-law Tommy, Roseanne’s partner Derek, daughter-in-law Aishling, Noel partner Frances, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Sheila will repose at Carpenters Funeral Home Shamrock Sq., Carlow (R93 C863) on Thursday January 29th from 4pm, concluding with prayers at 7pm that evening.
Removal from there on Friday morning at 10am, to the St Fintan’s Church, Ballinabranna, (walking from her residence in Raheendoran) arriving for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Bridie (Bridget) O’Neill (née Kelly)
Carlow/Laois
Bridget (Bridie) O’Neill (née Kelly) of Knockbeg Road, formerly of Tiereran, Laois passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 25th, at her home.
Predeceased by her loving husband William.
She will be sadly missed by her brother Joe, sons and daughters Liam, Eamonn, Declan, Catriona, Colm and Siobhain, her grandchildren Aaron, James, Conor, Sean, Katie, Shane, Thomas, Jack, Ben, Liam, Orla, Patrick, Phillip, Maria, Adam, Sofia, Zach and Samir, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.
Bridie will repose at Carpenters Funeral Home Maryborough St., Graiguecullen, Carlow (R93 ET80) on Thursday January 29th from 4pm concluding with Prayers at 7pm. Removal from there on Friday morning at 10.45am to St Clare’s Church, Graiguecullen, arriving for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in Sleaty New Cemetery, Carlow.
Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Patrick (Paddy) Dunne
Ballymorris, Portarlington, Laois
Formerly of Congress Tce Portarlington. Peacefully surrounded by his loving family at the Regional Hospital Portlaoise. Deeply regretted by his loving nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Reposing at Mahers Chapel of Rest Portarlington (eircode R32 X5XV) on Thursday evening from 7pm with Rosary at 8pm. Removal on Friday morning at 9:20am (travelling via his residence and Foxcroft Street) arriving St Michael’s Church Portarlington for Requiem Mass at 10am. Funeral afterwards to St Michael’s Cemetery Portarlington.
Paddy’s Requiem Mass will be streamed live on.
https://www.mcn.live/Cameras/st-michaels-church-portarlington
Martin McEvoy
Raggetstown, Abbeyleix, Laois/Ballinakill, 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.
William (Billy) Molloy
Fisherstown, Ballybrittas, Laois
William (Billy) Molloy passed away suddenly at his residence. Sadly missed by his loving family. Predeceased by his mother Chrissie and his father Joe. Fondly remembered by his brothers and sisters Mary, Ellen, Mag, Joe and John, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, neices, nephews , relatives, neighbours and friends.
Billy will be reposing at his sister Margaret’s residence ‘The Old Barracks’ Ballybrittas on Thursday 29th from 5pm until recital of the rosary at 8pm.
Removal by Whelehan Funeral Directors on Friday at 11.20am to arrive to the Sacred Heart Church Rath (R32 FN44) for 12 noon Requiem Mass. Interment will follow in the New Cemetery Emo.
Sympathisers can extend their sympathies on the online condolence facilities below.
House private on Friday morning please.
SEE ALSO – Deaths in Laois – Thursday, January 29, 2026
