The late Jack Keyes The death occurred suddenly of John (Jack) Keyes, Lower Grange, Goresbridge early on October 2. Jack, aged 85, enjoyed a full and active life right up to recent times and his passing was greeted with shock and sadness by his family and many friends in the local community and beyond. A giant of a man with an irrepressible wit, Jack was a real gentleman who made a lasting impression on anyone he met. He met and married the love of his life, Josie at 18 years of age and they were blessed with 68 years of marriage. Theirs was a loving home, an open house and the weekdays were detailed between rambling and 'visitors' with Sunday nights in particular a great night for games of '25' between neighbours. Born in 1918 at Upper Grange, Goresbridge, he attended St. Enda's NS and worked with local farmers in the area - Brennan's and Murphy's. It is reputed that he was the first man in the locality to break the tradition of working with the horse and plough to the mechanised tractor. He moved to his present residence in Lower Grange in 1952. A meticulous and hardworking man, he joined the staff of Goresbridge creamery in 1958 which subsequently joined the Avonmore fold. Jack also witnessed a further transition in the history of agriculture, being there from the changeover from milk churns to the bulk collection where he travelled to farms throughout Kilkenny, Carlow and in to parts of Wicklow. In his youth, Jack hurled for the three parish team of Castle Rovers but his main love was the game of cricket. Within a two mile radius of his home there were two cricket clubs. He joined Lower Grange, and then helped to form Upper Grange cricket club with many neighbours and friends enjoying the sport. His bowling prowess in particular was remarkable, he recorded numerous caps and he went on to play cricket for Gowran Castle, Bagenalstown and subsequently Carlow Town where he played in the Leinster and Dublin leagues. Indeed he enjoyed the sport right up to his late forties and during his latter years, was detailed to play one final match for Carlow Town in an effort to curb a certain English batsman of repute, Jack Notley, who had recently arrived to play for a major Dublin side, Jack bowled him out in the first over, and was applauded from the field. At the time of the 'Ban' his involvement in gaelic games was curbed but he loved hurling and also played football for local teams. In the early seventies he was a selector with the Barrow Rangers intermediate team. He retired from Avonmore in 1983 and enjoyed every one of his 21 years of retirement. An avid gardener he grew all kinds of vegetables and maintained his hedgerows and lawns with a diligence admired by all. He attended all local matches and was a passionate Kilkenny hurling supporter, following the county team throughout the country. During the months he dived headlong in to reading passionately seeking out novels on the Wild West and was a weekly visitor to the local library for more than 20 years. A pioneer of long standing and a blood donor for most of his life, he had a great love of his birth place and really cherished the history and locality of where he was born. Right up to his 80th birthday, he enjoyed cycling a bike, woodland walks, train rides with his his wife Josie to Dublin - in life Jack truly did record a wonderful innings. He passed away early on Saturday morning despite the best efforts of the Coronary Care Unit in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. Prayers at his residence on Saturday evening and Removal on Sunday evening was attended by his many friends and neighbours and the family will be forever grateful for their support. Newly appointed parish priest Fr. Laurence Malone was a wonderful support to the family and paid a fitting tribute to Jack at this Requiem Mass on Monday morning. His burial took place in the local cemetery in Goresbridge. Jack is survived by his wife Josie, sons Paddy (Lower Grange) and John (Bath, England); daughers Anna (Buckinghamshire, England) and Brigid (Surrey, England), sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and his many friends. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People October 2004 Tweet

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