Patrick Kielty bids final farewell to beloved mum

Patrick Kielty bids final farewell to beloved mum

12 March 2025

THE funeral took place in Dundrum on Monday of the mother of TV celebrity and comedian Patrick Kielty.

The Late Late Show host helped carry the coffin of his mother, Mary, who died peacefully at her home on Saturday at the age of 84.

Mrs Kielty’s husband, Jack, was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1988.

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.

Canon Robert Fleck said: “It left its impact not only on the close family and friends, but also on the wider community.

“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 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.”

Mrs Kielty’s eldest son, John, who delivered the eulogy, 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.

“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 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.

Following the requiem mass Mrs Kielty was laid to rest in the cemetery of the Immaculate Conception in Aughlisnafin.