Patrick Kielty mourned the death of his mother and carried her coffin in Dundrum (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Patrick Kielty’s mother, Mary Kielty, has been remembered as a resilient woman whose life was forever altered following the death of her husband during the Troubles.
Mary, whose husband Jack was tragically killed by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1988, passed away peacefully at her home in Dundrum, Co Down, on Saturday at the age of 84.
During the funeral service at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum, mourners were reminded of Mrs Kielty’s “a difficult life”, a reference to the loss of her husband.
Parish priest Robert Fleck noted the profound impact of this loss, stating: “It left its impact not only on the close family and friends, but also on the wider community,”.
Canon Fleck used the occasion of her funeral to reiterate the importance of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, saying: “On the occasion of her funeral, we recommit ourselves to working for peace and reconciliation in the divided community that is the north of Ireland”, reports .
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Patrick Kielty, right, carries the coffin of his mother Mary to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum, Co Down (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
In his last conversation with Mrs Kielty, Canon Fleck recalled that she was “a bit tired” but still managed to share some stories. He praised her sense of humour, saying: “Mary had a good sense of humour, her family have thrived on this gift,” and mentioned a recent meeting between Pope Francis and several world comedians, including Mary’s son Patrick.
The Pope spoke of the gift of comedy and how it pointed to the joy of resurrection, according to Canon Fleck.
In his eulogy, Mrs Kielty’s eldest son John reminisced about their “brilliant” childhood in the 1970s, despite it being a time associated with “the darkest days” of the Troubles.
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Patrick Kielty with his mother Mary before he completes his leg through his hometown of Dundrum during the London 2012 Olympics (Image: Reach / Belfast Live)
Mrs Kielty, hailed as “a brilliant” mother by her son, was a pillar of strength for her family, especially after the tragic loss of her husband in 1988.
“Mary’s life changed in 1988 when daddy was killed. Left with three sons aged 18 and under, it was a real bad hand of cards,” her son recounted. She didn’t falter, securing a job at the local school and throwing herself into community work, even becoming chairperson of the football club.
Her son fondly remembered how the birth of her grandchildren in the 1990s breathed “a new lease of life” into her. Despite health challenges in later years, she maintained her sense of humour, evidenced by a witty exchange during a hospital visit.
“She had plenty of hospital appointments in recent years,” her son shared. Recalling one particular incident, he said, “During one such visit last year, I was with her. She was struggling a bit with breathing. A young doctor says ‘Do you smoke, Mrs Kielty?’ ‘No.’ Full stop. She looks at me and says nothing. I said, ‘Mummy, do you not think you should say you stopped smoking when you were 80?’ The doctor laughs.”
Patrick Kielty, who had taken on hosting duties for RTE’s The Late Late Show just hours before his mother’s passing, delivered the second reading at her funeral mass. The service saw a gathering of notable figures, including RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst and other representatives from the broadcaster.
North Belfast priest Gary Donegan, known for his advocacy for peace and reconciliation, was also present. Mrs Kielty was laid to rest in the cemetery of the Immaculate Conception in Aughlisnafin.