Kehoe, Sean
June 10, 2009
The death has occurred of Sean Kehoe, of Oldtown, Tomhaggard.
Sean passed away in Wexford General Hospital on Monday, May 25, following a very short illness. He was just two weeks short of his 70th birthday. A son of Stephen and Anna Kehoe, Oldtown, Sean was the eldest of a family of ten; five boys and five girls. His father Stephen passed away in September 1977 and his mother Anna died in April 2007.
He is survived by his brothers Richard, Paul, Peter and Frank, and his sisters Patricia Devereux, Maura Furlong, Nuala Ryan, Benny Hughes and Stephanie Bierney.
After leaving school, Sean helped out on the family farm. He loved the land and was a master ploughman, with horses or tractor. Gaelic Games were one of the loves of his life. He was a member of Kilmore GAA Club and won a Junior County Football Final with them in 1962.
He remained an active member of the club right up until his death, selling Model County Draw tickets and the weekly lotto tickets up to the week he was admitted to hospital.
Sean was a great supporter of the county hurling team, very seldom missing a match. He was a regular visitor to Croke Park and many other venues around the country.
He was also Treasurer of Tomhaggard Fianna Fail Cumann and represented the cumann at Ard Feis every year. Sean was a tireless community worker and a member of many committees and local organisations over the years, including Tomhaggard Choir, St. Anne's Grotto, Tomhaggard Carnival, the Pastor Council and many more.
LIke many young men during 1958 and '59 Sean attended to his Civic Duties and joined the FCA. He reached the rank of Corporal and was in charge of all army activities in the FCA in Tomhaggard. He also spent many summers with the FCA in Gormanstown.
He embarked on a different career in the 1960s, leaving the family farm to take up employment in Howard Rowe and Son, Paul Quay, Wexford (Odlum Mill Group). He remained here as a lorry driver up until he went to Wexford Creamery to take up a similar position. He was a loyal employee of Wexford Creamery right up until his untimely death.
Sean's friends from the GAA and Fianna Fail formed a Guard of Honour at his funeral. The high esteem in which Sean was held was reflected by the large attendance at his Requiem Mass, which was celebrated by family friend, Very Reverend Danny McDonald, P.P. Marshalstown, in St. Anne and St. James' Church, Tomhaggard on Wednesday May 27.
Gifts brought to the altar during the offertory procession symbolising Sean's life included Wexford Creamery milk and cheese; a hurl signed by Martin Storey and a Wexford jersey, and a plaque he received from Fianna Fail for years of service. He was laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery, Kilmore.
Sean is survived by his loving children Schira, Eiven, Faela, Aoibhne and Fiachra, his loving partner Imelda, his eleven grandchildren Danielle, Leah, Elanah, Sarah, Heather, Louise, Dylan, Jordan, Joshua, Jasmine and Mollie, his extended family and wide circle of friends.
Last Saturday night, Sean's birthday party was to be held in Paddy Murphy's Tenacre. His family instead held a benefit night in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, with music provided by Matt Murphy, Hugh Bierney and gang. The Kehoe family would like to thank everyone who attended on the night and made generous donations to the Irish Cancer Society.
Wexford People, 10th June 2009
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