Cuilneach brother and sister pass away within hours of each other

Brother and sister pass away within hours of each other

Sadness as elderly siblings, who lived together their entire lives, are buried on the same day

A sense of sadness descended over the rural townland of Cuilneach, near Dingle, last week as an elderly brother and sister, who had lived together at their family's farmhouse all their lives in the countryside, passed away within a couple of hours of each other. John and Mary Martin, who were both in their eighties, passed away on Friday March 15th. John had taken ill earlier in the week and was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in Dingle. Sadly, he took a bad turn on Friday morning and his sister Mary, with whom he shared a house in Cuilneach, was sent for. John, or Jack as he was also known, passed away around lunchtime on Friday and his elderly sister Mary made her way, accompanied by relatives, to the home they had shared to make preparations for the funeral and get some clothing. Sadly, Mary herself took ill at the Cuilneach farmhouse and passed away that afternoon, less than a few hours after her brother's passing. Friends and neighbours described John and Mary as very kind, gentle and giving people and their sudden demise has left a deep sense of sadness in the local community. Dingle's Parish Priest Canon Tom Looney paid tribute to John and Mary at Masses over the weekend, speaking of their kind and gentle demeanor, describing them as 'true old stock'.
John and Mary's removal took place last Sunday evening from O'Connor's Funeral Home, Dingle, to St. Mary's Church. Following Requiem Mass on Monday morning, John and Mary travelled together in procession to their final resting place at St. Brendan's Cemetery at Milltown-Dingle, where they were laid to rest with their late brother Tom. They are survived by their sister Anne McDonnell, relatives, neighbours and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anamacha dilís