Kilkenny is mourning one of its much-loved adopted citizens this week following news that Patricia Friel lost her battle with cancer on Monday last.
Patricia or Paddy to those who knew her, was the daughter of one of Ireland’s most prolific playwrights Brian Friel. Paddy spent much of her latter years living in Kilkenny away from her hometown of Donegal.
Ms Friel (55 ) is survived by her two children Owen and Chrissie and her parents Anne and Brian. She is also sadly missed by her sisters Judy and Sally and her brother David.
Coming to Kilkenny in the 1980s she worked as superintendent of Kilkenny Castle for the OPW where she was highly regarded for her work there over the years.
Tributes have been paid to her over the local airwaves by friends.
She was responsible for much of the positive restoration works that took place at Kilkenny Castle and she was also responsible for other OPW owned sites outside Kilkenny.
Funeral mass took place at St Fiacre's Church, Loughboy, Kilkenny, and Ms Friel was buried afterwards in Foulkstown Cemetery.
