McKeon, Fr Jimmy
March 09, 2007
The late Fr Jimmy McKeon
It was with great sadness that the communities of Ballinamore and Drumlish learned of the death of the Very Rev James (Jimmy) McKeon. Fr McKeon died peacefully on Friday, March 2nd, 2007 in the loving care of the Sr Margaret and all the staff at Our Lady's Manor, Edgeworthstown.
Born in 1932 in the parish of Renagh in Co. Leitrim, Fr McKeon was educated at St Mel's College in Longford from the age of 12 and completed his Leaving Certificate examination in 1951.
Often described as a local football legend, Fr McKeon holds a unique place in the history of St Mel's College as both an outstanding player, and later as a mentor.
As a player and the head prefect of that year, in 1951 he was noted as an excellent full back and performed to that extent on the Leinster title winning team. There was no All-Ireland championship series in those days, and it could be said that the Interprovincial series was very much the Railway Cup of college football of the day. No less than 11 members of that winning St Mel's team, including Fr Jimmy, were selected for a Leinster side. Some of those names include Walter Cahill, Jim Harold, Eamon and Arnold Meagher, Mick Dalton, Tony Hayden, the late Ciaran Ryan, the late Eddie Rowley and the late Eddie Duffy.
Following on from his school years, Fr McKeon went on to study at St Patrick's College in Maynooth and was ordained on June 22, 1958.
He then served on the staff of his alma mater St Mel's for over 10 years, from 1959 to 1970. That decade had been described as the school's golden era in football and so it was that under his guidance, the Longford College went on to achieve five Leinster Final successes and two All Ireland titles in the immediate years following. He was noted as a quiet man on the field, almost inperturbable if you will, not to mention a highly respected academic, teacher and member of the community.
In 1970, Fr McKeon went on a temporary mission to Edinburgh, relocated in 1971 to Glasgow and overall spent almost ten years living and working as a missionary in Scotland.
In 1979 he became the catholic curate in the parish of Rathcline until 1983 when he was moved to the parish of Drumlish. Finally, in 1984 he continued on in that role until his retirement in September of 2002.
Fr McKeon's remains were brought to St Mary's Church, Foxfield, Fenagh. He was laid to rest next to his parents at Fenagh Abbey Cemetery after funeral mass celebrated by Bishop Colm O'Reilly. His passing is deeply regretted by his brother, Michael, sister, Mae, sister in law, Bridie, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, cousins, Bishop Colm O'Reilly, Priests of the Diocese, former housekeeper, Molly Whitney; former parishioners and a large circle of friends.
Courtesy of the Longford Leader
09 March 2007
Most Read Stories