Mother of Louis Walsh remembered as ‘an extraordinary woman' as Westlife members and stars attend funeral of Maureen (94)
The Church of the Holy Family in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, was almost full to capacity for the funeral of Maureen Walsh (94).
Her sons Louis and Frank and daughter Sarah paid tribute to their mother, who enjoyed a great relationship with her children and always encouraged them to 'make the best' of themselves.
Celebrities from the music and TV industries were in attendance, including Westlife members Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filan, as well as Dana Rosemary Scallan and Glenda Gilson.
Born Maureen Healy in 1931 to Delia and Martin Healy and the eldest of five children, Ms Walsh moved to Kiltimagh when she was a teenager.
She began working in a premises now occupied by the Teach O'Hora pub before she married Frank Walsh. The couple had 10 children.
In the 1970s, she got a 'new lease of life' when she began working with voluntary help group Western Care, where she made many friends and stayed until her retirement.
Fr Michael Quinn, who concelebrated the funeral mass with three other priests, described Ms Walsh as 'a true friend of many years', 'a treasured neighbour' and 'a great work colleague'.
Mourners heard about the hospitality she showed visitors to her home in Church Street, Kiltimagh, where her door was 'always open'.
A Mayo flag, rosary beads, a photo of Padre Pio, a pack of playing cards, a copy of Ireland's Own magazine, a rolling pin and a family photo were brought to the altar as symbols of her life.
Ms Walsh was an enthusiastic follower of the Mayo and Kiltimagh GAA teams and always flew a flag outside her house before big games.
She was also a keen listener to Midwest Radio throughout the day.
'She said she used to go to bed with Michael Commins twice a week,' said daughter Sarah, referring to the popular radio show presented by Commins, who knew her.
She went on several Midwest Radio trips and always brought rashers, sausages and Barry's teabags with her.
Described as 'deeply religious', Ms Walsh had a great love of Padre Pio and the rosary and went on pilgrimages to Medjugorje.
She was also an enthusiastic set dancer and played cards most nights of the week before being afflicted with Alzheimer's.
Son Frank said the disease made her final 12 years 'tough on the family'.
'Maureen lived for her family,' he said. 'She was the heart, she was the rock. We all loved her.'
He went on to describe her as 'a woman of great strength, loyalty, grace, with infectious laughter and compassion'.
'It's very, very hard to say goodbye, but we have to let go,' he said.
Ms Walsh is survived by sons Louis, Joseph, Noel, Paul, Frank, Eamon and Padraic, daughters Sarah and Evelyn, sisters Anne O'Hora and Christeen Reddington and brother Martin Healy, and was predeceased by her husband and daughter Catherine.
She was laid to rest in a wicker coffin in Kilkinure Cemetery in Kiltimagh.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Sam Rockwell considered teleprompter for iconic White Lotus monologue
Sam Rockwell revealed he initially thought about using a teleprompter for his iconic monologue in The White Lotus. Earlier this year, Frank's (Rockwell) standout monologue in Season 3, Episode 5 of the hit HBO show sparked a wave of praise and viral memes. In an interview with GQ, the 56-year-old actor admitted he was concerned about memorising the long and emotional monologue. "Well, I joked with (creator) Mike White and the producers that I might possibly need an earwig, a teleprompter kind of thing, because I was fearful that I wouldn't know the lines," he explained. Rockwell revealed that his partner, Leslie Bibb, who played Kate on the show, helped him remember his lines. "Leslie came to visit me on the other movie and drilled me on the lines and ran them over and over again on safari in Africa," he said. "They did have an earwig prepped, but I never needed it. I did the first take in one take in a close-up." Explaining his choice to film the scene in close-up, Rockwell said he wanted it to feel like a "confessional," as his character was "revealing this really secret part of himself." He filmed the monologue as Frank opposite Walton Goggins, who played his longtime friend Rick.
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn stuns in sizzling gym wear snap after hitting back at mum-shaming over OnlyFans pics
SARAH Jayne Dunn looked incredible in in sizzling gym wear snap after hitting back at mum-shaming over OnlyFans pics The ex-Hollyoaks actress, 43, showed off her toned abs in a fuchsia pink sports crop top and shorts. 3 Actress Sarah Jayne Dunn showed off her toned figure in a pink gym set Credit: Instagram 3 The former Hollyoaks star said she is thriving on OnlyFans Credit: instagram Sarah flashed a smile while at the gym, as she put her trim physique on display. She finished her workout look with bronzed makeup and went on to defend her choice to wear cosmetic products in the gym. Sarah wrote alongside the snap: "Someone actually asked me… 'Are you seriously wearing makeup to the gym?' "Yep. I am. I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for ME! More on Sarah Jayne Dunn "A bit of tinted moisturiser and mascara. Not full glam. Just enough to feel like I've got my sh*t together before I throw some weights around. "And honestly? I'm bored of the judgement. "Since when did wearing makeup mean you're not serious about your workout? "Some women feel their best fresh faced. Some love a bit of glow and gloss. Some genuinely couldn't care less. ALL of it is valid." Most read in Showbiz She added: "Wearing makeup doesn't mean I'm insecure. Not wearing it doesn't mean you're more confident. "Let's not turn personal choice into a personality trait. Soap star hits back as she's mum-shamed over racy pics "So yeah, I lift, I sweat, I push myself hard… with a bit of blush and mascara on. Shocking, I know." The former soap star, who played Mandy Richardson on Hollyoaks from 1996 to 2021, famously left the show after . Despite the star admitting that she's thriving in her new OnlyFans role, it doesn't come without it's criticism. Sarah recently hit back after being mum-shamed over her racy photos. They ordered her to quit adult subscription site OnlyFans, where she was flogging risque shots, or be axed. While she's been making big money on the platform, having claimed to have taken home £700,000 in 2022, Sarah has found herself the target of cruel trolling. Taking to Instagram to confront her latest bully, she sarcastically responded to their nasty comment. The follower had written: "Yeah why not just make sure your kids get bullied because of your content just so you can get a little validation from people you don't know, good idea." But Sarah - who shares son Stanley, nine, with her husband Jonathan Smith - made sure to clap back with humour, pretending to read a positive one in a get-ready-with-me video. With the aforementioned jibe shown on the screen, she instead read: "Thanks for your inspiring content. Your son is really lucky to have a mom like you that loves him so much. Please show us some more of your outfits." Sarah then enthused: "Of course I will! What a kind, kind comment. Thank you. I will happily show you another outfit," before proceding to talk her fans through what she had been wearing. At the end, she concluded: "Thanks again for that really, really lovely, positive comment." The actress quit the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks said it doesn't allow cast members to be active on certain 18+ websites because of the show's responsibility to its young audience. Speaking about posting on OnlyFans before, Sarah said it was "about taking back control, about empowerment and confidence and having full power over my choices". 3 Sarah had a clever response for a troll who commented on her son Credit: The Mega Agency
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Kerry Katona's new boyfriend has got a GIRLFRIEND who accuses him of ‘dating TV star for fame'
KERRY Katona's new boyfriend has got a GIRLFRIEND who has made some accusations about him. Kerry's 6 Kerry Katona recently went public with her new man Credit: Getty 6 Kerry is dating Paolo Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Jessica claims she was Paolo's girlfriend at the same time he was on Celebs Go Dating Credit: Instagram / @jessicafayesmith_ A woman has claimed she was dating Paolo, 33, before he went on Celebs Go Dating, which is where he met Kerry, 44. The new couple went public last week, with fans stunned by the new pairing as their age gap of 10 years was unveiled. Jessica Smith, 25, has now said that Paolo is her boyfriend, and claims he never told her about going on the hit series. She claims the father-of-two only went on the show because he wants to further his career. Read More about Kerry Katona Jessica, who is a warehouse manager from Yorkshire, has now opened up in a new interview. She told "I do not believe that he has one single feeling for Kerry, he only cares about fame, and he'll be happy he's now being put out there." Jessica said she is a 100% sure that he didn't go on Celebs Go Dating to find love. Most read in Reality "He lied to me the entire time we were together. It was horrendous," she said. Jessica told the paper how she was taken by surprise by his Celebs Go Dating stint and new relationship with Kerry. Kerry Katona shows off two stone weight loss in low cut minidress She alleges that Paolo told her that he was going to business meetings in London when he was actually filming the reality-dating show. "Every single thing was an act. I feel like I was completely led the entire time," Jessica told the paper. Paolo also allegedly told Jessica that he told her he had filmed for a dating show "a long time ago". "He told me that 'it's nothing to do with love and it's only for the fame'," she recalled him saying. Kerry Katona's love life timeline Kerry's first high-profile relationship was with Brian McFadden, who was then a member of the Irish boyband Westlife. The couple married in 2002 and had two daughters together, Molly and Lilly-Sue, but divorce beckoned just four years later after infidelity claims. In 2007, Kerry married Mark Croft, a former taxi driver. Their relationship was tumultuous and marked by financial difficulties and accusations of infidelity. They had two children together, Heidi and Maxwell, before divorcing in 2011. Kerry has spoken openly about the difficulties she faced during this period, including struggles with her mental health and substance abuse. Following this, she entered into a relationship with George Kay, a former professional rugby league player. They married in 2014 and had a daughter, Dylan-Jorge (DJ). However, their relationship was fraught with issues, including horrifying domestic abuse, and they separated in 2017. Kay died in 2019 after 'biting into a ball of cocaine'. Kerry later found love again with Ryan Mahoney, a fitness trainer. The couple became engaged in 2020, and Kerry described Ryan as a stabilising and positive influence in her life. After increasing speculation late in 2024, Kerry revealed they had split over a "breach in trust" and Ryan had moved out of her home. He is also alleged to have told her: "I promise you, everyone goes on the show for fame and I'm just doing the same'." Jessica and Paolo started their relationship after he randomly messaged her on Instagram, with their bond blooming after several dates. While Paolo was on the dating show, he allegedly sent Jessica, who he told he wanted to marry, loved up messages. During the filming of the show in April and May, Paolo continued to send Jessica lovey-dovey texts, despite seemingly forming a bond with Kerry. Jessica said he eventually admitted to filming the programme. Speaking to the paper, she revealed: "I asked him, do you expect me to sit at home and watch this and still be with you and he replied: 'I hope you will do that but it's completely down to you.' "I hysterically cried all day at work, everything was a lie." 6 Jessica has said she was shocked to learn of Paolo's reality telly stint and new romance Credit: Instagram / @jessicafayesmith_ 6 Paolo has kids from a previous relationship Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Kerry met Paolo on the hit series Credit: Getty
