Kill org lin couple re-united in special month
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KATHLEEN (Kate) O’Malley (née O’Sullivan) of Teach Cnocán, Laharn West, Killorglin passed away very peacefully at home on Friday, July 20, surrounded by her loving family.
Kate was born on September 17, 1945 to Bridie (née O’Donoghue of Droumduhig, Ballyhar) and Michael O’Sullivan of Knockancore, Kilcummin, Killarney. She was the second-youngest of four. She has one sister, Breda McGlynn (Tralee); one brother, Timmy O’Sullivan (Kilcummin); and was predeceased by her other sister, Mary Courtney (Knocknagoshel) in 2015.
Kate went to primary school in Kilcummin and then secondary school in nearby Killarney. She then went to work in administration in CIE in Dublin in the early 1960s. She told fond stories through the years of her time spent in Dublin with her good friend, Joan Courtney (O’Sullivan) of Kilcummin, who was also working in Dublin at the time.
The call for Kate to return to her Kerry roots was strong, and she returned to Killarney, where she trained as a psychiatric nurse in St Finian’s Hospital. This was following in the footsteps of her grandparents, who had also worked as psychiatric nurses at the same hospital.
Kate was of tall stature and excelled in playing basketball with the staff team from StFinian’s Hospital with the expert coaching of Weeshie Fogarty.
Kate married her soul mate, Mícheál O’Malley of Laharn West, Killorglin, on July 24, 1971 and they enjoyed 32 years of marriage until Mícheál predeceased her on the eve of their wedding anniversary in 2003.
Kate and Mícheál were a very united couple in life and have now been reunited together in their heavenly home.
They were a great team, and both of them were very dedicated to their religious beliefs and were an inspiration to their children and grandchildren.
Both Kate and Mícheál maintained a deep faith even during their times of illness, and they were granted many graces, mainly being that their periods of ill health were short lived and that they were both granted their wishes to pass away in their own home.
Strangely, Kate passed away the day after her late husband’s birthday, with her Requeim Mass then held on July 23, the date of his 15th anniversary. The following day was their wedding anniversary.
Not only are both of their anniversary dates so close, July 20 and 23, but making it all extra special is how close they both are to their wedding anniversary.
Two of the personal items brought to the altar on the morning of Kate’s Requeim Mass were a framed wedding photo and their wedding album.
These were brought forward by Kate’s niece, Margaret McGlynn-Hanly, who had been Kate’s flowergirl the day she got married.
Mícheál often referred to July as being “his month”.
He was born in July, got married in July, his eldest child was born in July, and he passed away all in July, but his words certainly rung through for him this year when he was reunited with his beautiful wife in their special month.
Kate had a deep interest in antiques, Irish history and its traditions, hence why her garden became home to many antiques, with a lot of them coming from her old home in Kilcummin, with the remainder donated to Muckross House and its traditional farm. Kate was a hard worker and enjoyed working the family farm at Laharn West with her husband, Mícheál. Kate had a fond interest in gardening as can be seen from her beautiful garden at home.
She was extremely knowledgeable in relation to all the various trees, plants, shrubs and flowers that adorned her garden. She was gifted with her hands, and any job done was done in a very tasteful manner. She was a great woman to predict the weather forecast, especially when it came to cutting crops on the farm or turf in the bog.
Every year, she enjoyed the time spent saving the turf at the bog and the cutting of the silage and hay on the farm.
Kate was a real homemaker, always having a welcome for everyone, and she doted very much on her beautiful grandchildren.
Kate was very involved in the local Killorglin community. She had a long-term involvement with St James Church and in particular with its beautiful choir. The music and singing during Kate’s Requeim Mass was absolutely beautiful and so touching. This was with thanks to Mary Ralston (Choir Organist); Deacon Thady O’Connor of Kilcummin, a cousin of Kate’s ; and all the members of both Killorglin and Cromane Church Choirs who were in attendance. The Requeim Mass was very special from beginning to end, with sincere thanks to Fr Michael Fleming (PP Killorglin), Fr Donie Sheahan (Kilcummin and California), Deacons Pat Coffey and Thady O’Connor, Pat Moriarty (Sacristan) and altar servers.
The singing of three songs, ‘My Darling Kathleen’, ‘This Story I Tell You is True’ and ‘The Wild Flower of the Laune’ by Thady O’Connor at the graveside was also very special, with these songs having been sung by Kate herself many a time.
Kate was a pioneer, having received her golden pioneer pin in 2016. She was also a founder member of Killorglin’s Woman 2000 group, who arranged a most beautiful guard of honour for her Funeral.
Kate was a very popular lady, very friendly and unassuming, and this was reflected by the absolutely huge crowds that attended Kate’s Rosary, which was held at her residence as per her wish and fitting with her love of tradition. It was also the case at her removal from Flynn’s Funeral Home and again at her Requeim Mass and graveside. The funeral cortége took a slight detour to travel into St James Church, Killorglin via the old Glenbeigh road, a road travelled by Kate many a time, stopping at her house one last time as a mark of respect. Kate’s family would like to acknowledge all those who helped both Kate and the family itself in recent weeks.
A special word of thanks to all involved in Kate’s delivery of care in her final weeks at home. The family would like to especially thank Dr Mags Clifford (Palliative Care Consultant); Siobhán Keane and Liz Reidy (Palliative Care Nurse Specialists); Nancy Dineen and Tina Falvey-Bolger (Irish Cancer Society Nurses); Dr Noel Mulligan (GP) and his staff; Joseph Crowley (Pharmacist) and his staff; and Sharon Williams (Public Health Nurse); and her nursing team, Darerca Lynch and Helen O’Sullivan. Their fantastic care delivery to Kate will never be forgotten.
Thanks also to extended family, many friends and neighbours for all their visits to Kate, and their support and help given to the family in any way. Gerard and Mary Flynn and their sons, Gary and Shane of Flynn’s Funeral Directors, Killorglin, need to be commended very highly for their expert professionalism throughout the funeral, and their support to Kate’s family. Thanks also to Sinead and Sean Houlihan and staff of Nick’s Restaurant for the most beautiful meal after the Funeral.
A big thanks also to Donal Courtney and his team of Ard Alainn Mental Health Day Centre in Killorglin and the management and staff of the Specialist Palliative Care Unit in Tralee for all the invaluable support given to Kate’s daughters, Cathriona and Bridget, at this time.
Kate is survived by her daughters, Bridget (O’Shea) and Cathriona; son, John; sonin-law, Paudie; daughter-inlaw, Kathleen; her Godson and eldest grandchild, Darragh; her other eight grandchildren, Ronan, Mícheál, Saoirse, David, John Junior, Stephen, Jason and Katie-Rose; her sister, Breda McGlynn (Tralee); her brother, Timmy O’Sullivan (Kilcummin); nieces; nephews; grandnieces; cousins; extended family; neighbours; and many, many friends.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dilís.