RIP Des Coffey
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Dr Desmond (Des) Coffey on 30th November 2025.
Des was the first doctor to support Kairos in our early days at Stonhouse Street. Working with the Clapham Family Practice on Clapham High Street, he visited the house each week, for anyone who needed to be seen. His warm, approachable manner meant people felt at ease.
Kairos’ link with the Clapham Family Practice lasted for many years: initially through Des and then through Dr Ray Walsh, who continued the weekly visits when Kairos later moved to Linden Grove and Bethwin Road.
“Des was a joyous, happy fellow who brought joy to people when he came to do his surgery at Stonhouse Street. He was funny, he was understanding, he was kind. He was almost like a humorous, friendly Irish cousin. He was a good friend to Kairos as well as a GP to us,” said Fr John Kitchen, reflecting on those early days.
Des Coffey introduced me to Kairos in the very early days, when Kilburn Night Shelter worked from Stonhouse Street. He was the local attending GP, helping Fr John Kitchen, Mossie and Tony Walsh, writes trustee Gerald Barry.
I first met Des in Cork when I was a schoolboy and he was a first-year medical student at University College Cork and later again when we were both living and working in London.
Des was born in Kilkenny in 1948. He went to the local Christian Brothers school and Clongowes Wood College before studying medicine at UCC, graduating in 1975. He worked in several hospitals, including St John’s Wood, Pontefract and Solihull, before becoming a GP. He spent 25 years at the Clapham Family Practice. A good, knowledgeable and caring physician with a kind heart.
He is survived by his wife Laura and their children, Jeremiah and Olivia.
Des enjoyed current affairs, sport and reading and was quite the polymath. His passions included Kilkenny County hurling, Manchester United, Ireland and Leinster rugby, cricket and horseracing. I will miss him and feel privileged to have known him for more than 55 years.
Rest in peace.