THE TOWN of Bunclody came to a standstill on Saturday afternoon as a huge crowd turned out to bid farewell to one of their true community men, Jimmy Kehoe.
Mr. Kehoe sadly passed away at the Mater Hospital on Wednesday last following a car accident in Bunclody in the early hours of Saturday morning. He had been involved in a single-vehicle collision at Glaslacken and was brought to Wexford General Hospital. From there, he was transferred to the Mater Hospital on the Sunday before sadly losing his fight for life on Wednesday.
At his funeral mass on Saturday, crowds gathered in the church grounds to pay their respects while hundreds more packed into Calvary Cemetery outside the town, for what was described by one local as the biggest funeral in the town for 50 years.
Fr. Jim Kehoe, a cousin of Mr. Kehoe referred to him as “a legend”, adding: “You were a good man and a good provider for your family. There wasn’t a lazy bone in your body.”
Mr. Kehoe had four sons: Robbie, Dylan, Jamie (who could not be home for the funeral) and Padge. Speaking during the funeral mass, Dylan thanked the local fire brigade and Gardai and the doctors and nurses in both hospitals, as well as all of the friends and well wishers whose support had been overwhelming.
“It is unbelievably sad and painful to have to say goodbye to you today, but looking at the crowd here, it is safe to say that Daddy, you were a popular man.”
Speaking also at the funeral was Mr. Kehoe’s brother Eamon who spoke of his brother’s love of sport: “I never played with anyone who had such passion. He wore all of his jerseys with pride. He was so proud in 1996 when Colm brought home the Liam McCarthy cup, a week after the celebrations.
“I could stay and talk about him forever but today, I say ‘so long’ to my best friend and brother but I’m not going to say goodbye because Jimmy, you will be forever in our lives and our hearts. I’ll finish by quoting his famous words: ‘You were fabulous and out of this world’.”
Jimmy Kehoe is survived by: his wife Geraldine; sons Robbie, Dylan, Jamie and Padge; parents James and Cathy; siblings Eamon, Michael, PJ, Colm, Joan, Mairead, Martina, Pauline and Collette; and extended family and friends.
May he Rest in Peace.
[Full story in this week's Echo]
