The late Peggy O'Rourke was Johnstown’s oldest resident

The peaceful death occurred at the Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Crosspatrick, of Peggy O’Rourke (née McDermott), Main Street. A native of Eyrecourt, Co Galway, Peggy was Johnstown’s oldest resident, and died just a few days after her 98th birthday.

Peggy worked in D’Arcys in Urlingford and met her future husband Pat at a dance in St Kieran’s Hall, Johnstown. They both later went to London where they were married in The Brompton Oratory and Peggy worked in Barclays Bank. They returned to Johnstown in 1953 to Pat’s family home.

Peggy was very involved in the life of the village. She was the first Eucharistic Minister in the parish, and was appointed by the late Canon Greene, PP. She was secretary to the Active Retired, which was founded by Sister Ursula, a member of the ICA and the Tuesday Club in Urlingford. She loved going on outings and mini breaks and was a whiz at table quizzes.

Peggy was for many years the local correspondent for the Johnstown Notes in the Kilkenny People. She had a fantastic memory and until her death she could tell you who’s who and what’s what. She had a great interest in history, especially local history. In fact her home was once a resting place for the grooms to the horses for Bianconi coaches’ which passed through Johnstown on their way to Cork and Dublin.

Predeceased by her husband Pat and her daughter Alma, she is survived by her daughter Geraldine (O’Grady); sons-in-law Tom and Joe; grandchildren Ciara, Niamh, Orla and Conor; great-grandchildren Patrick, TJ, Allie, Aoife, Isaac and Nina; sister Sheila (Scarriff); sisters-in-law Bea and Mary; brother-in-law Johnny; nephews; nieces; relatives; neighbours and many friends.
Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Kieran’s Church followed by burial in Johnstown Cemetery.