RIP: Longford saddened by death of lady in her 101st year who was greatly loved by all

There was deep regret across north Longford and beyond at the death of the late Kathleen Jones (née Boyle) of Dring, who passed away peacefully last Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Laurel Lodge Nursing Home in her one hundred and first year, where she had resided for the last couple of years. 

Kathleen was a native of Corglass in Dromard but moved along with her family in her youth to Killeen, where she lived until her marriage to David Jones of Dring on Easter Monday 1963. She and David raised their family in Dring while working on the successful family farm. 

Kathleen was of a friendly and outgoing nature and was someone who took a deep and genuine interest in everyone and was renowned for her generous and hospitable nature and was greatly loved by all in the community. She had a great faith and was a regular pilgrim to Lourdes. 

After David’s passing in 2001, she moved to the home of her daughter Marie and son-in-law Peter McGivney in Cloonagh, where her pleasant and friendly personality made her a valued member of her adopted parish and she will long be fondly remembered in the area. 

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She had great affection for her children and her nephews, as well as for her grandchildren when they arrived in turn, taking great pleasure in their achievements and exploits both on the football field and elsewhere. 

Kathleen was predeceased by her husband David, her parents Patrick and Katie, her sister Bridget Mary, and her brothers John, Packie Joe, Peter, and Terry. 

She is survived by her daughters Marie McGivney (Cloonagh) and Rena Flood (Ballinulty), her son David (Dring), her sons-in-law Peter McGivney and Jack Flood, her daughter-in-law Róisín, her brother James and sister-in-law Eileen, her grandchildren James (Sinead), David (Ashling), Elaine, David, Evelyne, Lorraine, Sarah, Denise, Karen and Jack, her great grand-daughter Róadh, her nephews, and a wide circle of relatives and friends to whom we offer our condolences. 

The large crowds at Kathleen’s wake and at her funeral were a measure of the great affection in which she was held in the community at large. Her Funeral Mass took place on Sunday, February 22 in St Joseph’s Church, Purth, and was celebrated by Fr Séamus McKeon PP, assisted by Fr Michael Bannon, Fr Simon Cadam, and Fr Brian Brennan, after which she was laid to rest alongside her husband in Mullinalaghta cemetery. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam caoin agus dílis.

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