Stephen Keegan was a family man, socialist and gentleman
PEOPLE throughout Enniscorthy and across County Wexford were saddened recently at the passing of Stephen Keegan, Summer Hill, Enniscorthy.
Born on February 3, 1936, Stephen was the fourth child of Patrick and May Keegan. He was the first of their children born in Ireland after their return from the US, to where they emigrated after the Civil War in Ireland.
Upon their return to Ireland the family settled in Weafer Street, in Enniscorthy.
Stephen was adored by his aunts, Ellen and Teresa, and spent much of his early years with them in Irish Street where they had a shop.
He told many stories of a happy childhood growing up in Enniscorthy recalling school days, in what is now the FDYS, and summers spent up the banks.
At the age of 15, he pleaded with his parents to be allowed to leave school and go and serve his time as a plumber/fitter/welder with his uncle Stephen Roche, in Galway.
Involved in the construction of hospitals, Stephen loved Galway, and had many happy memories of times spent there.
His time in Galway also led to his introduction to the Big Bands of the day, and he loved attending dances in Salthill.
From Galway, Stephen moved to England where he spent a number of years working on the construction of chemical plants and oil refineries.
From the UK, he moved back to Cork to work at the Whitegate oil refinery and it was in Cork that he met, Una, the woman who would become his wife; they met at a dance in Arcadia.
They married and moved to London where Deirdre was born a couple of years later.
However, they didn’t want to rear a family in England so they moved back to Enniscorthy - the town he loved - and got a job installing the heating system in St Senan’s Hospital.
The couple built a house in Summer Hill - taking into account the height of the occupants, much to the amusement of visitors. It was then that their second daughter, May, was born.
Stephen and Una shared 48 happy years of marriage together until Una’s death in 2009. He found the ensuing years difficult and at times lonely but he never complained.
During the 1960s and ‘70s Stephen worked around the country on various jobs. He went to England at times when work was scarce at home and he also worked in Holland and Iran, in addition to spending a year in Saudi Arabia.
During his travels he made many friends and has as many stories to tell. He was popular with people of all ages and everyone had a story to tell about him as well.
One of five, and a big family man, and was very proud of all his family, his nieces and nephews and took great delight in all of their achievements.
Stephen was very close to his sister Mary (Nolan) who was a nurse who worked in public health in Wexford.
His brother, Tom, moved to the US where he remained until he passed away and another brother, George, who was a baker and avid hunter and fisherman, was killed at Edentubber.
Stephen’s younger brother, Pat, moved to the UK where he worked for the NHS and secretary of the hospital union.
Stephen was also a trade unionist and was passionate about workers rights.
He was also a very learned man, as a result of being an avid reader, and he was the type of person who had a book on the go almost on a continuous basis.
He had an annual subscription to National Geographic and would read it from cover to cover. Stephen also had a great interest in current affairs, politics, history and geography.
However, when he wasn’t reading he loved sitting down to watch a good western.
Stephen also took great pleasure from sport and enjoyed GAA, soccer, rugby in equal measure. He was also very interested in his garden and took great joy out of watching the various birds that would visit it.
He loved having a good discussion and he always stood up for his what he believed in regardless of whether or not it matched popular opinion.
Stephen was a gentle giant of a man and his imposing height was at odds with his gentle nature.
He loved socialising and enjoyed nothing more than his pint of Guinness and Paddy. A regular in Donohoe’s, there were many barmen given instruction with regard to how to pull a pint.
Stephen came from a strong line of Republicans and he had strong political views throughout his life. He was disgusted when our Government did not have the interests of all the people at heart.
Stephen was a socialist and as a lifelong member of Sinn Fein he took great pleasure in Johnny Mythen’s success in the last election.
Deputy Mythen himself said he was privileged to be asked by Stephen’s family to say a few words about him and described him as a ‘ larger then life character’ whose name was spoken with pride and revered in Republican circles across Ireland.
Though they are grieving Stephen’s family have taken much comfort from the messages of support and condolence they received from neighbours, friends and relatives in the wake of his passing.
They also gave special thanks to the carers who looked after Stephen in particular Andrea, Trish, Jackie, Barbara and Bernie, who all went above and beyond the call of duty in the care and kindness they showed him.
His family also thanked the staff of St Vincent’s Hospital, in Dublin, Dr Philip Bowe, and the public health team at Enniscorthy clinic for the care given over the years and Sarah Breen and the medic team of the ambulance corps who were also superb.
Stephen will be sadly missed by his daughters, Deirdre and May, May’s partner, John, his adored grandsons, Stephen and Sean, his extended family, neighbours and very large circle of friends.