Emotional scenes as RTE Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty carries mother's coffin at funeral

RTÉ star and Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty’s mother has been remembered as a resilient woman whose life changed following the death of her husband during the Troubles.

Mary Kielty, whose husband Jack was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in 1988, died peacefully at home in Dundrum, Co Down, on Saturday aged 84.

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In the eulogy, mourners at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum heard Mrs Kielty’s eldest son, John, speak about their “brilliant” childhood in the 1970s, despite it being associated with “the darkest days” of the Troubles. He said that Mrs Kielty was “a brilliant” mother and took her three sons “everywhere” while their father worked with showbands and at dances.

Her life changed when her husband was killed in 1988. “Mary’s life changed in 1988 when daddy was killed. Left with three sons aged 18 and under, it was a real bad hand of cards,” he said.

“She got a job in the school, got involved in the football club. She even managed to become chairperson and she got the three of us reared.”

Patrick Kielty, who had presented an episode of RTE’s flagship TV programme The Late Late Show hours before her death, gave the second reading at her funeral mass.

Among those who were in attendance at the funeral were RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst and other RTE representatives. North Belfast priest Gary Donegan, an advocate for peace and reconciliation, also attended.

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