Kilkenny, Mick
February 04, 2011The death has taken place of former Leitrim football great Mick Kilkenny, a man who had the unusual distinction of captaining Leitrim to an All-Ireland title and driving Pope John Paul II on his visit to Ireland in 1979.
A native of Killafee in Aughavas, Mick Kilkenny captained Leitrim to victory in the 1938 All-Ireland Junior Championship "Home Final", defeating Kildare in the Final before suffering a shock loss in the Final proper against London.
Kilkenny, a man steeped in the GAA and all things Leitrim, also achieved fame when, as part of his job as a Ministerial driver with An Garda Siochana, he drove Pope John Paul 11 on his visit to Ireland in 1979.
Mr Kilkenny was awarded the Jim Lynch Hall of Fame award in 2005 and was active up until the time of his passing at the age of 93 years on Tuesday January 25 at The Hermitage Medical Clinic after a short illness.
Mr Kilkenny is survived by his wife Sheila, sister Cissie Duffy, sisters-in-law Nora, Maeve and Peggy, former colleagues, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Mr Kilkenny was laid to rest in Mount Venus Cemetery, Rathfarnham last Friday, January 28, following requiem mass at the Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim Street, May he rest in peace.
Courtesy of the Leitrim Observer
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