Munster Express Online

We record the passing at a relatively early age of  John Costello of Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny.

To many in South Kilkenny he would have been well known as an employee of Dawn Meats in Grannagh, Kilmacow. He had been in that employment for nearly 25 years and had built up lasting friendship with many of the firm’s colleagues and staff over that time. He was most helpful in his position there, and many of the farming community that supplied stock to their premises would have remembered him. He had taken early retirement from the firm, but shortly afterwards his state of health disimproved and he passed away after an illness born with great courage and Christian faith some months later.

It was a cruel blow, but John never complained and died in the company of his family and friends in a very peaceful manner.

He came from a farming family in Ballyhale and took an active interest in politics, having been a proud member of the Fine Gael party in the district. In sport it was the Shamrocks GAA club that he followed, and he had the privilege of seeing his nephew Brendan play with distinction with the club. He also loved to socialise and enjoyed dancing and music. There was a very large and representative gathering on both days of his obsequies, which took place in Ballyhale.

John was the son of the late Frank and Stella Costello (his late mother was a member of the Wallace family of Innisnag, Stoneyford). He is survived by his brother Frank and sister Mary, his sister-in-law Alice and brother-in-law Seamus Ireland, and also by his nephew and nieces (Brendan and Aisling Costello, and Sharon, Lorraine and Mandy Ireland). Also surviving John are his uncle John Joe Wallace and aunts Nellie, Mary and Anna. Clergy present in Saint Martin’s Church were Fr Keogh and Fr Lynch, both Carmelite priests, and Fr Barron, Mullinavat.

Fine Gael members and public representatives formed a guard of honour as John’s remains were taken from his residence to the church, and also the following day when the burial of the deceased took place. Deirdre Keogh and Martina Knox, two local singers, rendered hymns in the church, and his friend of many years, the well known singer Mary Darcy, sang in the church, bidding farewell to a patron that came to dance to her for many years in many centres in the South East. To his immediate family, relatives, friends and neighbours we extend our deepest sympathy on their great loss.

Ar Dheis De Go raibh a anam dilis.