Hundreds turn-up for funeral of Carlow woman who died alone after undertaker's last-minute appeal

Hundreds of people turned up for the funeral of a woman who died alone after a Carlow-based undertaker appealed at the last hour for members of the public to attend.

Mary Regan, originally from Adrigole in West Cork, had worked in the UK for a lot of her life with her late partner, Fred ‘Tony’ Long, who was from Carlow.

The couple, who did not have any children, moved back to The Weir, Poachers Gate, Burrin Road in Carlow town up to 20 years ago when they both retired. However, Ms Regan died last Friday, at Hillview Nursing Home in Carlow, two days following the first anniversary of Mr Long’s death.

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Ms Regan, who would have turned 90 next March, was predeceased by all of her siblings - Paddy, Con, Patricia and Jerry.

Rory Healy of Healy Funeral Directors placed an appeal on Monday at around 9pm on the Carlow Deaths and It’s All About Carlow websites appealing for members of the public to attend her Requiem Mass, which was held in the Church of the Holy Family, Askea, Carlow town at 9.30am on Tuesday.

In his appeal, Mr Healy said that if anyone could “spare 45 minutes to attend mass 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”.

Mr Healy explained that he did not want Ms Regan to have a funeral with “only a few people in attendance” for the daily 9.30am mass and “I did not want to send Mary off from Carlow alone". "Her partner used to visit her every day in Hillview Nursing Home every day religiously until he passed away. Mary was a gentle and quiet lady,” he said.

The funeral director continued: “Thankfully word got out on social media and the mass, which would maybe have 50 people in attendance, had more than 300, with many filtering in through the ceremony when people heard about Mary’s funeral.”

Since Mr Long’s death, it is understood Ms Regan did not have many visitors to the nursing home but was shown “great care and attention by the staff at Hillview,” Mr Healy added.

“Mary only had one nephew based in Cork and he was unable to attend, unfortunately. But there really was a great sense of humanity and community from all of the members of the public who arrived into the church.

“Students from the nearby secondary school of Presentation College Carlow also attended when the appeal spread. Fr Tommy Dillon and Fr Tom Little officiated at the mass, which was really lovely. The church reached full capacity, which was wonderful.”

Ms Regan was buried with her parents in her native Adrigole, in Cork on Tuesday afternoon. A condolence message left on rip.ie said: "Thank you to the staff of Hillview Nursing Home who cared so well for Mary. Thank you to Rory Healy for his empathy and kindness and to the people of Carlow who turned out this morning for Mary's funeral mass. May Mary Regan rest in everlasting peace."

Another message welcomed Ms Regan home to west Cork. "We didn't know you, but God speed as you pass by us in Coppeen on your way to Adrigole. Welcome home to West Cork's hallowed ground as you join those that you loved who are gone before you. Rest in peace, Mary."

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