Town natives were saddened to learn of the sudden death on May 11 of Sean T Keane, who was a native of Garraunakilla, Upper Market Street, Ennis. Though he emigrated to America in 1961, he still considered himself a townie and kept in touch with friends in Ennis through the telephone and Internet, almost on a daily basis. He was a regular visitor to Ennis and it was ironic that his death took place on one of the trips to the town he loved so well. At 69 years of age, he was staying in the holiday home of one of his brothers, Padraig, at Lahinch Road, Ennis when his death took place. He was a son of the late Tom and Anne Keane, Garraunakilla. His father, who was a big Fianna Fail supporter, was at one time nominated a senator by Eamonn De Valera. Educated at Ennis CBS and St Flannan's College, Sean T, who was better known as Jesse to his friends, was a colourful and popular character. He was a singer and guitar player and in the famous days of the skiffle groups with their guitars, steel washboards and tea chess-like bass, he led his own Alley Cats band. They were the top skiffle group in Ennis and won competitions in Clare and in the North Munster region. Later, he had the distinction of being the first guitar player to feature with the Tulla, Kilfenora and Sean Duggan ceili bands. He also featured with the Bella Costelloe dancers, Ennis. For a number of years he worked with Clare County Council as a fitter, welder and turner, a trade he aquired from Ennis vocational school teacher, the late Jack Buckley. He was also a keen hurler and won a minor hurling championship with the St John's Club in Ennis. In all his years in America, he continued to follow the fortunes of Ennis and Clare hurlers. In 1961 he emigrated to America and lived with his cousins, the Campell family in Patterson, New Jersey. Shortly afterwards, he joined the US Airforce and served overseas in Germany and Great Britain. And when he had completed his service with the Air Force, he returned home for a short while and worked in Shannon. However, he returned to America to live in New York, where he was a superintendent in a building complex. He also kept up his musical interests in New York and played with a number of groups and personalities, such as Andy McGann, the famous violinist. He was also associated with the Clare Association in New York. His annual visits to Ennis to meet old friends were always great occasions and Sean T also looked forward to hosting them when they visited New York. A large number of friends and town natives attended the removal of his remains from Kennedy's Funeral Home to Ennis Cathedral on Thursday, May 15. The coffin was draped with the stars and stripes flag of America. The remains were recieved at Ennis Cathedral by Fr Tom Hogan, administrator, who in celebrating the funeral mass on the following day reffered to the fact that Sean T served as an altar boy in the cathedral in his young days and on one occasion was the soloist at Christmas Eve and Christmas day masses. A tribute to Sean T was also paid by a friend, Frank Conway, Ennis. The funeral took place after mass to the family grave in the old cemetery in Drumcliffe. Sean T, whose sister Mary died in the US three years ago, is survived by his wife, Sarah (the former Sarah Nee from Connemara) brothers, Padraig (New York) and Sylvestor (Ennis), sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Courtesy of the Clare Champion 23 May 2008 Tweet

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