Knockadoon, Co Mayo

THE FUNERAL MASS has taken place of pensioners Tom (77) and Kitty (72) Fitzgerald at the Church of the Holy Family and Saint Oliver in their home of Knockadoon, Irishtown, Co Mayo.

The married couple were found dead at their home last Tuesday afternoon.

Their son Paul was removed from the scene with serious head injuries. He remains in hospital in Dublin where his condition is believed to be improving.

Today, Parish Priest Martin O’Connor spoke of “a silence” falling across the parish at the news of Tom and Kitty’s deaths.

“The loss of Kitty and Tom who were so much part of the life and landscape of this parish is a shattering experience for you their family, but also for us, their parish community,” O’Connor said.

Down through the ages the believers have cried out to God ‘Why do you allow this to happen?’

The tragic nature of their deaths might lead us to forget the gift they were to you their family and to us their friends – the goodness of their lives and the contribution they made to our parish community.

Local journalist Michael Commins last week described Tom Fitzgerald as “at the heart and soul of the community life of Irishtown”, and said that Kitty was “bubbly and vibrant and always brought a smile to all her friends”.

The deaths of the couple has shaken the community to its core.

Today, O’Connor said that “on hearing the news everything changed”.

It was one of those moments in life when we remember exactly where we were when we heard it.

Nothing I expect will ever be quite the same again.

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