Taoiseach among leading figures at Kelly funeral

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny was among many leading political and sporting figures to attend the funeral ceremonies of Pádraig Kelly, father of Ireland South Fine Gael MEP and former GAA president Seán Kelly.

Mr Kenny was accompanied by his wife, Fionnuala, a niece of the late Mr Kelly, who died unexpectedly, aged 87, at his home in Gortroe, Killarney.

He was laid to rest in Old Kilcummin Cemetery, following final prayers of commendation and farewell at the Prince of Peace Church, Fossa, outside Killarney.

The attendance included GAA president Christy Cooney and some of his predecessors, including Joe McDonagh and Peter Quinn; former GAA director general Liam Mulvihill; Kerry GAA board chairman Jerome Conway; Tipperary football manager John Evans; former Kerry football star Maurice Fitzgerald; and rugby legend Mick Galwey.

From the world of politics came MEP Gay Mitchel, head of the Fine Gael group in the European Parliament; Irish East MEP and FG presidential nomination-seeker Máiréad McGuinness, former Tánaiste Dick Spring and Independent TD for North Tipperary Michael Lowry.

Seán Kelly, who has indicated his intentions to seek a FG nomination for the presidency, spoke movingly about his father, a farmer and ex-psychiatric nurse at St Finan’s Hospital, Killarney.

Four f’s, he said, were immensely important in his father’s life — family, farming, Finan’s and football.

The service was conducted by the late Mr Kelly’s brother, Fr Laurence Kelly, and his sons, Fr Larry, parish priest of Rathmore, and Fr Dermot, a Sacred HeartOrder missionary in Venezuela. The Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, led scores of clergy.

Chief mourners were the late Mr Kelly’s widow, Hannah, and children, Brian, Mary, Fr Larry, Seán, Fr Séamus and Dermot, and brothers, Seán and Fr Laurence. He was predeceased by a son, Brother Pádraig.