Remembering the late Frances Hogan of Larchfield, one of Kilkenny City’s oldest residents

Frances Hogan of Larchfield, one of Kilkenny City’s oldest residents, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on October 18, 2023. She was just a few weeks shy of her 101st birthday.

Born in Birr, Co Offaly in November 1922 a few weeks before the founding of the Irish Free State, Frances was daughter of Tom Hogan, a First World War Veteran and Mary Ellen (née Cleary).

She lived through the presidency of all nine Irish Presidents; she bore witness to all of the economic and social issues our country experienced since its formation. Frances was an incredible storyteller and was able to recount all the things she’d seen and lived through vividly and had great memories of growing up as a young girl in Birr. 

 Frances met her husband Jimmy a Kilkenny native in Birr where he had taken up employment as a confectioner in Oakley’s Bakery in 1940, They were married in 1942 and lived outside the town of Birr next to the Old Crinkle Military Barracks. They pair began raising what was to become their large family of fourteen with ten girls and four boys. In 1964 Jimmy and Frances with their children in tow moved to Kilkenny where he took up employment at the Kilkenny Bakery of PJ Crotty and Sons.

Frances was a very loving mother who dedicated herself to her family. Frances’ home was always filled with books as the whole family were weekly visitors to the Kilkenny County Library on John’s Quay. She loved nature and her favourite hobby was tending her garden at every opportunity. She always had colour in the garden no matter the season. She was a great cook and had to cater for different tastes as well as having many mouths to feed. Frances had great faith and her religion played a huge part in her life, attending mass daily in St. Patricks, her local parish church. Frances prayed every evening to her favourite saints. St Anthony was a favourite of hers, and she would always have an abundance of his prayer cards to hand out. 

France was incredibly kind and generous. As well as her own children, she always managed to remember the birthdays of her grandchildren and great grandchildren and had a special connection with each one. Christmas was also a special family time for her and without fail Frances made Christmas magical for everyone.

When her children were older, she enjoyed many trips to Kenya, Botswana and Rome to visit family. In her younger years Frances lived a very active life including daily walks, she enjoyed going to the Saturday night cabaret in the Springhill Hotel with her beloved Jimmy and was a founding member of The Ladies Friendship Club where she made many friends who remained her best friends until her passing.

Frances was blessed with good health up to her final year. She loved to be active and had an infectious positive attitude, never a woman to complain, she was believer in making every day count. Frances while not one to look back, in her final years her only two regrets were that she never learned to drive and that she "never got that knee done”.

She was a dedicated follower of fashion and had a great sense of style. Frances read the newspaper daily and always stayed well informed of both local and world events. She celebrated her 100th birthday last year in Langton’s surrounded by her large extended family and close friends. Francis put her longevity down to “a bit of luck and everything in moderation.”  Though a woman of great faith and kindness, Frances kept her mischievous sense of humour until the very end.

Frances indeed was no ordinary woman. she was predeceased by her loving husband Jimmy, daughter Pat, grandson James, sons-in-law Mike and Brandon, her mam, dad and her two brothers and sister. 

She is survived by 13 daughters and four sons, 42 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a her many dear friends.