KILLARNEY has been greatly saddened by the passing of Carmella Sheehy following a battle with illness during which she demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience.
Very well known and hugely popular, she moved to Killarney from her native Blackpool in Cork in 1977, to take up a position as a social worker at St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort, and she spent the past four decades at the heart of the community, more recently as a career guidance counsellor in Killarney Community College.
Very committed to and passionate about every project she got involved in, Carmella was very active in Fossa Youth Club during her early days in Killarney and, as a result, she was offered and accepted a full-time position with the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service. She married schoolteacher Eddie Sheehy, from Castleisland, in September 1981 and when their children, Dáire, Tríona and Eamonn arrived, she left the KDYS and began a career as a guesthouse owner which continued until 2003.
During that time Carmella qualified as a counsellor with marriage and relationship advice service Accord. She completed a degree in chaplaincy and secured a post as chaplain in Killarney Community College.
Carmella, whose lived in Aghadoe, became ill in 2007 but on returning to work, she commenced further studies in career guidance in UL and took the position as career guidance counsellor in the college. Sadly, her illness returned in 2018.
Carmella was passionate about music and song and she was involved in several folk groups as well as working for some time with the Scór ballad group in Fossa GAA Club.
A keen sports enthusiast, she was a passionate Manchester United fan and celebrated their achievements over the years with great joy. She was also a real charity champion and keep fit enthusiast and she completed both the Ring of Kerry cycle and the Ring of Beara for worthy causes.
Carmella’s husband Eddie, a retired teacher who worked in St Brigid’s Secondary School in Killarney, founded the Kenya Education Project and he has dedicated so much time to helping educate and care for children in that country for over 15 years.
Their daughter Tríona, a teacher at Holy Cross Mercy National School in Killarney, is also very actively involved in the project and she is currently on leave of absence from her teaching post to enable her to work with children in Kenya.
Carmella and Eddie’s eldest son, Dáire works with MD O’Shea’s in Killarney and the youngest, Eamonn, is a primary school teacher in Kielduff.
Carmella (née Moriarty) was the youngest of three children with two older brothers. She passed away, peacefully, in the care of the staff of the Suaimhneas Centre, Palliative Care Unit, University Hospital Kerry, on Wednesday.
Reposing at her family home, Linn Dubh, Aghadoe, Killarney on Friday from 3.00pm to 7.00pm, the funeral will arrive at the Prince of Peace Church, Fossa, on Saturday morning at 9.30am for Requiem Mass at 10.00am. Cremation will take place afterwards in the Island Crematorium, Cork.
The family has asked for no flowers by request and donations, if desired, can be made to the Suaimhneas Centre, Palliative Care, University Hospital Kerry.
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