Kilkenny Deaths - Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Condolences are extended to the families and friends of those who have died.
Shirley Kelly
The death has occurred of Shirley Kelly, Ardra, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, July 6, 2026. Daughter of the late George and Ina. Shirley will be sadly missed by her daughter Sarah, sister Georgina, brothers Brendan, Canice, Niall, Finbarr and Cormac. sisters-in-law Mags and Michelle, brother-in-law Joe. niece and nephews Niamh, Donal and Mathew, aunties Chrissy and Sheelagh, cousins and a wide circle of friends. The Kelly family would like to especially thank the Bergin family for the love, kindness, compassion and empathy shown to Shirley in her final years.
Funeral arrangements later.
Maurice (Adrian) Hennessy
The death has occurred of Maurice (Adrian) Hennessy, Revanagh, Coolcullen, Carlow via Kilkenny. Peacefully at his home on July 6, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his parents Maurice and Elizabeth, sister Betty and brother John. Beloved husband of Peggie, loving father to Christopher and Stacey, deeply regretted by his daughter-in-law Clare and Stacey’s partner Brian, grandchildren Leah, Sophie, Abi, Michael and Luke, brothers and sisters niece's and nephews relatives and friends.
Reposing in Somers Funeral Home, Bagenalstown on Friday from 3pm to 7pm, with Funeral Prayers at 6.30pm. Funeral Mass will take place in St. Lazerian's Church, Leighlinbridge on Saturday at 11am, followed by Cremation afterwards in Mount Jerome (Victorian Chapel) at 1.45pm. The ceremony can be viewed on: https://www.mountjerome.ie/ No flowers please. Donations if desired to the Carlow Kilkenny Homecare Team. Maurice's family wish to thank the Public Health Nurses, Palliative Care Team, Carers and all who cared for Maurice during his illness.
Martha Doherty (née Roberts)
The death has occurred of Martha Doherty (née Roberts), Drakelands House Nursing Home and formerly of Blackmill Street, Kilkenny and London UK. Martha passed away on July 4, 2026, peacefully, in the wonderful care of the staff at Drakelands House Nursing Home. Beloved mother of Denise, Gerald and Donald. Martha will be sadly missed by her loving family, brother Gus, son-in-law John, daughter-in-law Danni, grandchildren Hannah, Conor and Sarah, sisters-in-law Breda (Roberts) and Hilda (Doherty), nephews and nieces, in a special way her niece Hilda (Comerford), extended family and all her friends at Drakelands. The family would like to acknowledge the management and staff at Drakelands Nursing Home and Dr. Anna Kavanagh, Castle Gardens Medical Practice for the care and kindness shown to Martha over the years.
Requiem Mass on Wednesday at 11am in St. Joseph's Church, Foulkstown, Kilkenny. Interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only please. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed here: REQUIEM MASS
Joseph (Joe) Rafferty
The death has occurred of Joseph (Joe) Rafferty, 3 Chapel Lane, Thomastown Co Kilkenny and formerly of Edinburgh Scotland, peacefully at St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny, on July 3, 2026. Predeceased by his parents Kitt and James and sister Catherine. Sadly missed by his daughters Sandra and Julie, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended Stapleton and Kelly families, Neighbours and Friends.
Requiem mass at the Church of the Assumption, Thomastown, on Wednesday, July 8, at 11am in the main chapel. A private cremation will take place at a later time. Funeral mass can be viewed online at, https://thomastownparish.ie/webcam/ House is private please.
Mary Rita Phelan
The death has occurred of Mary Rita Phelan, late of Castle Ellis, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2026, in the exceptional care of the staff of The Sycamore Ward, St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny. Predeceased by loved family members, Mary Rita will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her brothers John and Patrick Phelan, her sister Breda Stack (née Phelan), her nieces and nephews, her relatives and friends.
Requiem Mass on Wednesday, July 8, at 11am, in the Church of the Assumption, Gowran, Kilkenny, followed by private cremation in Newlands Cross Crematorium, Dublin. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Aoife Ní Chorcoráin and the doctors, nurses, and staff of The Sycamore Ward, St. Luke’s Hospital, for the kindness, compassion, and excellent care shown to Mary Rita throughout her illness.
The death has occurred of Sr. Joan Hogan, Holy Faith Sisters, California, US, formerly of Ballytarsney, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny, who died peacefully, on May 4, 2026 in the loving care of the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Orange, CA and Regina Residence, Orange, CA. Predeceased by her parents John and Bridie, her brothers Edward, John, Denis and Dick, her sisters Molly (Cassin), Bridget (Cody), Sr. M. Melania (Ellen), Anastacia (Farrell), Sr. M. Virgilius (Kathleen) and Sr. Alicia (Alice) recently deceased, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family and friends in Ireland and US, Holy Faith Sisters especially her Sisters in the US, staff and residents of Regina Residence, past pupils and her colleagues in Wells of Life.
Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, July 8, in Sacred Heart Chapel, Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange at 10am followed by burial of cremains with her sister, Sr. Virgilius, in Resurrection Cemetery, Rosemead, California. Funeral Mass will be available to view on: https://youtube.com/@srsofstjosephorange/streams. Click on title, Sr. Joan Hogan, CHF - Mass of Christian Burial.
Maurice Hennessy
The death has occurred of Maurice Hennessy, Revanagh, Coolcullen, Carlow via Kilkenny. Peacefully at his home on July 6, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his parents Maurice and Elizabeth, sister Betty and brother John. Beloved husband of Peggie, loving father to Christopher and Stacey, deeply regretted by his daughter-in-law Clare and Stacey’s partner Brian, grandchildren Leah, Sophie, Abi, Michael and Luke, brothers and sisters niece's and nephews relatives and friends.
Reposing in Somers Funeral Home, Bagenalstown on Friday from 3pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass will take place in St. Lazerian's Church, Leighlinbridge on Saturday at 11am, followed by cremation afterwards in Mount Jerome (Victorian Chapel) at 1.45pm. No flowers please. Donations if desired to the Carlow/Kilkenny Homecare Team. Maurice's family wish to thank the Public Health Nurses, Palliative Care Team, Carers and all who cared for Maurice during his illness.
Elizabeth Byford
The death has occurred of Elizabeth Byford, 6 Archersfield, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny. Unexpectedly, at her residence on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Pre-deceased by her mother Rita. Deeply regretted by her sorrowing family, her children Luka, Johannes and Giselinda and their father Danijel, her brother Richard, her father John, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Funeral Service will take place in Kilkenny Steiner School, Ballytobin, Callan (Eircode R95 ATK7) on Wednesday, July 8, at 2pm. Burial will follow afterwards in Kilmoganny Cemetery.