BALLINA – Bernie, a resident of 58 Healy Terrace, Ardnaree, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026, at the Moyridge Nursing Home.
The death of the Ardnaree native marks the loss of a matriarch whose family ties extend across several generations, including 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, and whose life was deeply rooted in the social and parish life of Ballina.
Bernie was predeceased by her husband, John, and her parents, Mai and Cecily. She was also preceded in death by several siblings, including brothers Sean, Mickie, Paddy, Seamus, and Noelie, and sisters Kathleen, Bridie, Daisy, Nan, and Baby Philomena.
She is survived by her children: Mary, Patrick, John, Pauline, Charles, Bernadette, and Richard.
Her wider surviving family includes brothers Kevin, Nicky, and Phonsie; nephew Gerry O’Mahoney; and a large circle of daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and sisters-in-law, as well as neighbours and friends who knew her as a steady presence in the Ardnaree community.
Funeral Arrangements
The family has announced the following schedule for the repose and burial services in Ballina, which will be conducted in accordance with Irish funeral and public health regulations, including protocols on crowd management and the respectful handling of remains set out under the Public Health Act 1965:
- Reposing: Tuesday, June 30, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina (Eircode F26 V274).
- Requiem Mass: Wednesday, July 1, at 11:30 am at St. Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
- Interment: Burial will follow the mass at Leigue cemetery, Ballina.
Local parish funeral practices, overseen in this case by Ballina’s diocesan structures, have increasingly incorporated remote access to services, with many families opting for online participation when travel or health constraints apply. In line with that shift, the parish provides a dedicated live-streaming facility through the official Ballina Parish website at www.ballinaparish.org.
Memorial Requests
The family has requested that flowers be limited to immediate family members only, a customary approach that also helps funeral directors and parishes manage space and safety considerations in smaller venues.
In lieu of other tributes, donations are being accepted for the Moyridge Patient Comfort Fund. Contributions can be made through McGowan’s Funeral Home in Ballina, supporting institutional efforts to enhance day-to-day quality of life for residents in long-term care.
For those unable to attend the service in person, the funeral mass will be live streamed via the official Ballina Parish website at www.ballinaparish.org, allowing extended family and the wider diaspora community to join the liturgy from abroad.
