Father of six dies in road accident

FORTY-eight-year-old Lissycasey father of six Pat Kelly, died following a road traffic accident on St Stephen’s Day.  He was driving between farmland in the Cragg/Coolbawn area.

When he failed to return home, a search ensued and Mr Kelly’s body was found near the vehicle. It is believed that the vehicle skidded out of control due to the icy conditions on the road on which he was driving. The scene was attended by Fr Artie Kelly, Dr Barry John Kelly, along with the ambulance service.
As well as being a farmer with a number of farms and up to 500 cattle, Mr Kelly was also a cattle breeder. He was noted locally for his work ethic and his devotion to his family.
As a youngster, he played football for Lissycasey and lined out at full-back in his club’s 1979 minor county final defeat to Kilfenora.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; six children; his mother, Peggy; sisters and brother.
Lissycasey county councillor PJ Kelly said it was impossible to encapsulate the feelings within the local community following Pat Kelly’s death, along with the deaths of Brian Casey and Tommy Meere.
“I’m not a man that is often stuck for words but I’m stuck now,” Councillor Kelly said.
However, he noted that local people had rallied around the grieving families in their efforts to help in any way.
“The response from the community has been amazing,” he said, pointing out that several local roads had been voluntarily gritted by local people.
Mr Kelly was laid to rest in Lissycasey churchyard on Tuesday.