Tag Archives: Death

GARDAÍ have made a fresh appeal for witnesses to a road crash in West Clare which claimed the life of an 83 year old nun last week. Cecilia Keating, known as Sr Claire, was laid to rest at the weekend having lost her life after a road collision last Tuesday afternoon at Bella, Kilkee. Sr Claire was originally from Lower Fierd, Cross and had been living in Castletroy, Limerick. She was a member of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Australia and Ireland. Making a renewed appeal for witnesses to the road collision Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks expressed appreciation on behalf of Kilrush Gardaí to those who have already come forward. She outlined, “At approximately 4pm on Tuesday last, March 7 a fatal road traffic collision occurred at Bella, Kilkee. Two vehicles collided head-on and one of the drivers a lady in her mid-80’s tragically received fatal injuries. The road was closed for a …

THE town of Ennis lost one its legends this week with the passing of local business man Jack Heaslip a day after he celebrated his 96th birthday. Jack, who was originally from Knocktopher, Kilkenny, was well-known throughout Ennis and Clare with Heaslip’s shop a fixture of O’Connell Street since 1960. Speaking at his funeral mass at Ennis Cathedral on Thursday morning, Jack’s friend Bishop Willie Walsh said that while it was a sad occasion, Jack had lived a very full life. “We gather, I think, in both sadness and in gladness. In sadness at the departure of a dear friend, but in gladness too, to have known such a lovely, gentle person, who enriched so many of our lives. Gladness too, I think, at the manner of his departure having just celebrated in song and story his 96th birthday. We thank God for his truly blessed and full life.” Delivering a eulogy, his son Sean said Jack had been a …

FAMILY and friends of an Ennis-based man, who tragically lost his life at the weekend after getting into difficulty at a popular swimming spot, gathered together for an emotional funeral service on Thursday. Samir Kaul, who was originally from New Delhi in India and lived on the Kilrush Road in Ennis, died on Saturday evening while visiting Ballyalla Lake with friends. The funeral service for Mr Kaul was held on Thursday at the Foundation Ministries Pentecostal Church in Ennis, which he had been involved with for nearly a decade. In a fitting tribute to the 49-year-old who has been fondly remembered this week for his love of dance, the church held a Service of Song in his memory. A video showing images of Mr Kaul’s happy times with his friends in the church was also played to those gathered to say their goodbyes. Speaking to the Clare Champion Reverend Albert Obadeyi of Foundation Ministries described Mr Kaul as “a man …

A MINUTE’S silence was held at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District this week following the tragic death of young lifeguard Fionn O’Brien. Meanwhile, the chaplain of Fionn’s former secondary school in Ennis has offered its support to past and present students affected by the loss. The 20-year-old, who was from a well-known Ennis family and lived on the Tulla Road, died after getting into difficulty while surfing off Lough Donnell beach on Monday. Fionn has been remembered as a “wonderful, smiling and talented young man” by his former school Rice College. A statement issued on behalf of the school states, “The Staff and Board of Management of Rice College would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the O’Brien family on the tragic death of their beautiful son, our past pupil, Fionn. To Fionn’s parents, Pat and Michelle, and his siblings Niall, Conor and Saidhbh, you are in our thoughts and prayers at this most …

The death has taken place in Carrigoran Nursing Home, Newmarket on Fergus of former Clonlara parish priest, Fr Brendan Cleary. Born on October 18, 1931, Fr Brendan was a native of Milltown Malbay and was a priest of the Diocese of Killaloe for 65 years. A past pupil of St Flannan’s College, he studied for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Carlow where he was ordained on June 5, 1955. His first appointment was on temporary Mission to the Diocese of Brentwood, UK and on his return in 1960 he was appointed curate in Killanena. He moved to Clonlara as curate in 1963. Fr Brendan was appointed curate in Killaloe Parish in 1980, living in Bridgetown from 1982 onwards. He was appointed adminstrator of the parish of Bridgetown/O’Briensbridge in 1987 and two years later he was appointed Parish Priest of Clonlara where he served until his retirement as PP in 2007. He then served as A.P in Clonlara until 2016 …

JUST two months ago, Kilmurry McMahon based couple Joe and Gemma O’Gorman lost their little baby boy, nine-week-old Mícheál. At Gemma’s 32-week scan they were told of an anomaly, and within hours of his birth he was having seizures while at five days old his parents were told he had a suspected genetic condition.  After a number of weeks of treatment in hospital his parents did finally get to bring him home, and he died in their arms on March 31. In honour of their son’s memory Joe and Gemma are walking the length of Route 66, which spans the USA, and has a total distance of 3,669.8km. They plan to complete the challenge by January 23 of next year, when Míchaél would have celebrated his first birthday. They have a GoFundMe page and at the time of writing donations were approaching €10,000, way ahead of an initial target of €1,000. When baby Mícheál passed, the lockdown was still in its …

THE man who died as the result of a stabbing in the Gordon Drive of Cloughleigh this afternoon has still not been named but Gardai say he was in his early thirties. People in Cloughleigh this evening said that he was from Ennis, although this has not been confirmed by Gardai. Gardaí were called to a serious assault at around 3pm. The injured man was placed in the ambulance, which is where he passed away. His body was removed to the Mortuary in University Hospital Limerick where a post mortem will take place tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 15 by the State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. The scene is currently preserved and being technically examined at this time. A man (late 30s) was later arrested and he is currently detained at Ennis Garda Station under Section 4, Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Gardaí are appealing to any persons who were in the area of Cloughleigh Estate/Gordon Drive, Ennis this afternoon between 2.30p.m. …

THE death has occurred at Mowlam Nursing Home in Ennis of Pat Cleary of Hazelgrove, Roslevan who was the advertising manager at The Clare Champion for many years. A native of Kilmihil, Pat travelled the world before he settled in Wales and became involved in the newspaper industry.  He was the advertising manager in charge of several titles there before returning to Clare. Pat was appointed to the ‘Champion by the then owner, the late Flan Galvin. This was a particularly challenging time for the paper, when new technology and an expanding workforce led to the ‘Champion becoming one of the dominant players among regional newspapers. This meant keeping ahead of the curve on all aspects of the business and Pat was very much a part of that. In his role as advertising manager, Pat brought flair to features, which became an important source of revenue for the paper. His local knowledge was key to this. A colourful and sociable …