Kelly, Des
November 26, 2013
Hacketstown and district lost a true gentleman with the recent passing of Des Kelly. He died at his home in Millpark, Hacketstown on Sunday 3 November surrounded by his loving family. Aged 63, Des had been diagnosed with stomach cancer less than a month before his death.
A native of Hacketstown, Des was son of the late Michael and Josie (nee McGrath). He was one of a family of nine - four girls and two boys - and was predeceased some ten years ago by his older brother Michael and sisters Maureen and Kathleen, who died in infancy.
After his school days, Des went to work with local company Duffy's of Hacketstown, working as a seed and agricultural salesman. Des was a highly valued employee with Duffy's for about 30 years and subsequently went into business on his own.
Des played minor football with Carlow in the late 1960s and was a loyal Clonmore clubman. A talented left full-forward and accurate free taker, he scored 0-7 as Clonmore beat the Fighting Cocks in the 1977 SFL Division 2 final, a game his side won by 2-10 to 0-2. Des made an even more vital scoring contribution in the 1980 Carlow intermediate final, when he scored six points as Clonmore defeated Nurney by 0-10 to 2-3.
Having met Shelia Dillon from Tinahely at a dance in Knockananna on 8 December 1974, the couple married in Tinahely on 28 August 1976. Theirs was a very happy union, blessed with four children, three boys and a girl. On Sunday 24 November, Des's youngest grandchild, baby Miia, was christened in St Brigid's Church, Hacketstown. It was an occasion Des would have greatly enjoyed, as family meant everything to him, and his passing is a source of huge loss to his wife, children, grandchildren, brother, sisters and extended family.
Des was a man of deep faith and was a Eucharistic minister at the local church. His remains were reposed at home and they were removed to St Brigid's Church on Tuesday. Members of Clonmore GFC formed a guard of honour at the removal and the club's no 15 jersey was placed on the coffin. Fr Jim McCormack, PP, Hacketstown received the remains, assisted by Fr Eoin Lambert and Fr Gahan PP, Tinahely.
Symbols of Des's life brought to the altar at the start of Mass were a football, a 'grandad's garden' sign, a photo of his grandchildren and a pyx - a container for carrying the Eucharist - representing his great faith.
Readings at Mass were by Des's nieces Joanne Bradbury and Celine Myers, while Prayers of the Faithful were recited by son Brian, grandson Aaron, brother-in-law Seamus and nephews Liam and Declan. The Offertory gifts were presented by wife Sheila and daughter Ashling.
During Mass, Fr Lambert, a close friend of Des, paid a fitting tribute to his life. Des was laid to rest in the family plot at Hacketstown Cemetery, with Fr Lambert reciting the final prayers at the graveside.
The huge crowds which attended the removal, funeral Mass and burial were indicative of the tremendous popularity enjoyed by Des Kelly within his local community.
He is mourned by his wife Sheila, children Darren, Brian, Conor and Ashling (all Hacketstown), brother Tony (Kiltegan), grandchildren Aaron, Josh, Ava, Shauna, twins Luke and Emily, Ruby and Miia, mother-in-law Lena Dillon (Tinahely), daughters-in-law Trish and Louise, Conor's partner Natasha, Ashling's partner Ivan, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, other relatives, good neighbours and many friends.
The month's mind Mass for Des Kelly will be celebrated on Friday 5 December in St Brigid's Church at 7.30pm.
Carlow Nationalist, 26th November 2013
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