RIP: Local woman touched lives on both sides of Roscommon-Mayo border

Molly (Mary) Keane (née Murray), Cloonfad, who died recently at Care Choice Nursing Home, Dungarvan, was a member of one of Cloonfads best known families.

She was in her one hundred and first year and had resided for several years with her daughter Marion down in Dungarvan.

Molly was a special person who commanded huge regard and respect in the Cloonfad region over the decades. Her warm and
generous smile endeared her to all and she had a lovely, warm and genuine rapport with all the people in the area.

Keane’s of Cloonfad was at the heart of the community life of the region for so many years, a welcoming place where everyone felt at ease and at home.

The business and pub did a tremendous trade in those years and Molly played a central role in those times.

The death of her son, PJ, at a young age while in his 30s and with a young family, in a tragic farming accident in the Irishtown area, was a heavy cross for her and his wife Margaret, a sister of the popular Galway-Roscommon TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, and the family to shoulder.

Her strong Christian faith was a source of comfort to her in those trying times and her resilience for the family was inspiration in such a special way.

So many genuine and warm tributes have been paid to Molly since her passing. Michael Brennan from Cloonfad was among the many joining in the tributes.

“Molly was a very special lady who had a hearty welcome with a lovely smile for everyone she met over many years in Cloonfad. Molly will be sadly missed by all the community.”

Peggy Lally Prendergast commented: “Molly was a real elegant lady who enjoyed the simple things in life such as bingo and chatting to people. She enjoyed good health which led her to reach pretty close to one hundred and one years, a wonderful milestone.”

Reposing was at the Family Funeral Home, Cloonfad, and interment took place in the local cemetery following Mass of the Resurrection in St Patrick’s Church, Cloonfad.

Molly, who was predeceased by her husband Michael, son PJ and granddaughter Joelyn, and her sisters and brothers, will be sadly missed by her sons Michael and Francis, daughters Marion, Ann and Margaret, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends.