THE mother of Kerry football stars David and Paudie Clifford will be laid to rest tomorrow.
Ellen Clifford, who comes from a strong GAA family in Ballymacelligott, had been battling an illness for some time and passed away peacefully on Saturday.
Her death notice on RIP.ie read Ellen died “peacefully at her home after a long illness bravely borne.”
READ MORE: Tributes pour in after Kerry star David Clifford's mother passes away
"Dearly loved and sadly missed by her husband Dermot, sons Paudie and David, daughter Shelly, father Pat,” the death notice reads.
A Requiem Mass will be held in the Prince of Peace Church, Fossa, at 2pm tomorrow, followed by burial afterwards in Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.
A staunch Kerry GAA supporter, the late Ellen, who was in her 50s, was in Croke Park last July to see both her sons win the All-Ireland Championship with Kerry where she was pictured embracing her sons and joined by husband Dermot and daughter Shelly.
Ellen, who worked for the Department of Justice, was back in Croke Park in January to see her sons help Fossa to win over Stewartstown Harps in the All ireland Club Junior Football Championship final.
And to honour their mother, both David and Paudie lined out for Kerry in yesterday's Munster Final victory over Clare.
Speaking after the game, Kerry manager Jack O’Connor said it was a family decision that Paudie and David played.
“It was a tough weekend for the Clifford family and it was a family decision the boys wanted to play. They felt it was the best way to honour their mother and they did so in style. It’s going to be a tough few days.”
And ahead of yesterday's match, Kerry great Colm Cooper paid a touching tribute to the late Ellen while speaking on The Sunday Game on RTE.
“It's very sad. It's very sad for Paudie, for David, for Shelly, and of course her husband Dermot. Ellen was a fantastic Ballymacelligott lady, the whole family is steeped in GAA," he said.
“It has been a tough couple of months for them. Only a couple of months ago, she was above watching Fossa winning the junior All-Ireland title with the family. They are wonderful moments.
“There is huge sadness around. It's going to be tough for the boys, because you've only got one mother. It'll be a tough day for everyone in Kerry, but especially those two boys and the family.
“Our thoughts are certainly with them.”
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