Looking Back: Funeral of Mr. John Darby, J.P., C.C., Kilcullen, Co Kildare

The death of Mr. John Darby, Kilcullen, took place at Kilcullen on last Saturday. Deceased was in apparently his usual health in the morning, but was suddenly prostrated with an apoplectic seizure, and, despite all that medical skill could suggest, only survived a couple of hours. Deceased, who was in the prime of life, was a member of the County Kildare County Council, having been recently co-opted in the room of the late Mr. E. Fenelon, Kilgowan.

On Monday morning his remains were borne from his residence to the Church of the Sacred Hearts and St. Brigid, where High Mass was celebrated for the repose of his soul. Celebrant, Rev. E. O'Reilly, C.C., Kilcullen; deacon, Rev. A. Ryan, Lusk; sub-deacon, Rev. R. Quinn, Donard; master of ceremonies, Rev. M. Traynor, C.C., Kilcullen.

In the choir were—The Very Rev. Thomas Curran, P.P., Blessington; the Very Rev. P. McCarthy, P.P., Ballymore-Eustace; the Very Rev. T/ Heffernan, P.P., Valleymount; the Very Rev. T. Heffernan, P.P., Valleymount; the very Rev. J. Maxwell, P.P., Dunlavin; Rev P. Kavanagh, C.C., Holywood; Rev. P. Duffy, C.C., Valleymount; Rev. T. Keogh, C.C., Ballymore-Eustace; Rev. J. Maguire, C.C., Dunlavin; Rev. John Kelly, C.C., Meath Street, Dublin; Rev. P McDonnell, C.C., Killindi.

After Mass the funeral took place to the family burial place, Newabbey, Kilcullen. The funeral cortege was one of the largest seen in the district for many years, and bore eloquent testimony to the esteem in which deceased was held by all classes.

The chief mourners were Dr. Daly (brother-in-law), William Darby, Monasterevin (cousin); Master E. Darby (nephew), A.J. Keogh, Dublin (cousin).

— Freeman's Journal 12.11.1902.

(Credit to Dave Byrne for trawling through the old newspaper files for references to and about Kilcullen.)

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