Hundreds turn up in Carlow for funeral of Cork woman with no next of kin

In a showing of the kindness of strangers, more than 300 people turned out yesterday to mourn an elderly Cork woman who died seemingly without any close friends or family.

Mary Regan, who was 89 and originally from Adrigole, passed away last Friday in Hillview Nursing Home in Carlow.

She had lived in the home for over a year, and had lived in Carlow for several years.

Her partner, Frederick ‘Tony’ Lang, a Carlow native, passed away almost exactly a year ago and she was predeceased by her siblings Paddy, Con, Patricia, and Jerry.

Appealed

Because Ms Regan had so few close family or friends, funeral director Rory Healy appealed on Facebook for people to attend her funeral Mass this morning in the Church of the Holy Family in Askea, Co Carlow.

Mr Healy wrote that Ms Regan had died in “the wonderful care” of Hillview Nursing Home.

He added: “Unfortunately, since the passing of Mary’s partner just over a year ago, she has had no next of kin and also didn’t have many visitors to her in the nursing home, only the great care and attention shown by the staff of Hillview.

“Mary lived in Carlow happily for a number of years and will tomorrow return to her native West Cork to be laid to rest with the members of her family that have gone before her.”

Spare

Mr Healy asked people in Carlow if they could spare 45 minutes to attend the Mass, adding: “It would be great to see that a lady who lived to be nearly 90 years will get a farewell from her adopted town of Carlow by the people of Carlow.

“Let’s not send Mary off from Carlow alone.”

Mr Healy’s appeal struck a chord with local people, and dozens turned out for the funeral Mass, with Fr Tommy Dillon saying that it was more people than attended “your average funeral”.

Speaking to The Echo yesterday afternoon, Mr Healy said Ms Regan had been a great character and a gentle person, and he was proud that Carlow had done right by her.

“Because Mary had no family to mourn her, the people of Carlow rallied round to send her off on her final journey home to West Cork."

Ms Regan will be buried at 11am tomorrow in the cemetery that is adjoining St Fachtna’s Church in her native Adrigole.