Patrick Kielty’s mother has been remembered as a resilient woman whose life changed following the death of her husband during the Troubles.
Co Down television host and comedian Patrick Kielty led mourners at the funeral of his mother as he was pictured carrying her coffin.
Mary Kielty, whose husband Jack was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in 1988, died peacefully at home in Dundrum, Co Down, on Saturday aged 84.
The funeral of Mary Kielty Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.
Family and friends gathered at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Dundrum earlier today for Requiem Mass.
Mourners at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum heard that Mrs Kielty had had “a difficult life”, referring to the death of her husband.
“It left its impact not only on the close family and friends, but also on the wider community,” parish priest Robert Fleck said.
“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.”
Canon Fleck said that in his last conversation with Mrs Kielty, she was “a bit tired” but managed to share some stories.
“Mary had a good sense of humour, her family have thrived on this gift,” he said.
“Recently, Pope Francis met a number of world comedians, including Mary’s stand-up comic son Patrick.
“He spoke, the Pope did, of the gift that was theirs, and of how it also pointed to the joy of resurrection.”
Patrick Kielty at the funeral of his mother Mary Kielty at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum. Photo Liam McBurney/PA Wire
In the eulogy, Mrs Kielty’s eldest son John spoke about their “brilliant” childhood in the 1970s despite it being associated with “the darkest days” of the Troubles.
He said that Mrs Kielty was “a brilliant” mother and took her three sons “everywhere” while their father worked with showbands and at dances.
Her life changed when her husband was killed 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,” he said.
“She got a job in the school, got involved in the football club. She even managed to become chairperson and she got the three of us reared.”
He said that in the 1990s, her grandchildren were born and gave her “a new lease of life”.
In recent years, he said her health had faltered but that she had retained her good humour.
“She had plenty of hospital appointments in recent years,” 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 presented an episode of RTE’s flagship TV programme The Late Late Show hours before her death, gave the second reading at her funeral mass.
Among those who were in attendance at the funeral were RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst and other RTE representatives.
North Belfast priest Gary Donegan, an advocate for peace and reconciliation, also attended.
The burial took place in the cemetery of the Immaculate Conception in Aughlisnafin.
Patrick Kielty holding the Torch with his mother Mary (Photo Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Despite her son’s public profile, Mrs Kielty always stayed out of the limelight.
Shortly after taking over as host of the Late Late, Patrick said: “Mary Kielty is secretly delighted but not making any real public statements.”
He also revealed how his mother took a no-nonsense approach to his fame.
“Whenever my mother leaves Mass on Sunday and someone says, ‘Mary you must be very proud of your son,’ she will reply, ‘Which son? I’ve got three of them and I’m proud of them all’.”
Speaking during an appearance at the Irish Open in Co Down, he also revealed his mother still offers to do his laundry.”I think Irish mummies never really understand what age their youngsters actually are. So you do get a lot of offers like ‘Do you have any washing’ and I would be like ‘Well no, no that’s done, I’m 53 mum,” he revealed.
Patrick Kielty’s father Jack was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in 1988. He was just 16 at the time.
Speaking on a BBC programme in 2018, he revealed that the IRA offered “revenge” for his father’s murder.
He stressed his family rejected the IRA’s offer “in no uncertain terms”.
In ‘My Dad, the Peace Deal and Me’, he said: “My dad died for nothing – he wasn’t a political figure, he wasn’t taking a stand.
“He had a building firm, he employed both sides.
“That wouldn’t be considered a stand anywhere else. He was just doing the right thing.”
Three men were convicted in connection with the killing, but freed after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Mrs Kielty was a former chairperson of Dundrum GAA Club.
News Catch Up – Monday 10th March