Music teacher’s fall from grace swift and dramatic
BELL RINGER, organist, music teacher, a highly-respected pillar of the community and now a convicted viewer and purveyor of child porn, Eanna McKenna’s fall from grace has been swift and dramatic.
When news first broke of his activities, the reaction in the town and county was one of shocked disbelief and of a betrayal of trust.
How could a man to who many hundreds of parents in the county had trusted to teach music to their children have concealed such a dark side to his character?
The affable music man who charmed the town with his musicianship had for many years been at the centre of all things musical in Wexford.
He had variously been a rehearsal pianist for Wexford Light Opera Society and Wexford Ladies Choir, teaching the choir on Friday nights, conducting Clonard Church Choir on Saturday nights; leading Rowe Street Junior Choir on Sunday; singing in Bride Street adult choir; playing the organ in St Iberius Church twice a month; and playing in the orchestra for Oyster Lane.
He taught in Wexford School of Music, and had choirs in the CBS New Ross and CBS Enniscorthy, as well as a classroom singing and percussion class in St Iberius School.
‘It does tend to get a bit hectic at times. But I manage,’ he was quoted as telling this newspaper back in 2003.
He played the organs at weddings and funerals, was a bellringer at Rowe Street Church and was at one time the Diocesan Director of Music as well as playing the organ at the Cathedral in Enniscorthy.
He is a member of the Irish Church Music Association and regularly attended their summer schools in Maynooth.
In 2007, Eanna McKenna appeared on the LateLate Show with a group of children and went on to accompany X-Factor contestant Mary Byrne, with a group of children, on a TG4 Christmas single.
‘Eanna was an affable type of fellow,’ said a local person, who came into contact with him through his music, ‘ to some degree he kept himself to himself but he regularly socialised with friends around Wexford.’
‘He was certainly a pillar of the establishment, particularly the musical religious establishment and there was a huge void when he had to cease his musical activities when news first broke,’ he said.
‘ There was never any suggestion of a dark side. People were extremely shocked and horrified when these revelations came out and people were particularly saddened for his parents. His father Sean died on September 15 and people are very upset for his mother Maura and the family, who are very highly regarded,’ he said.
The 2003 report about Eanna McKenna said ‘ he attends four Masses every weekend and he’s not even a priest’.
‘Factor in the number of weddings, funerals and christenings he attends, and you’d come to the conclusion that Eanna McKenna should take up lodgings in the local parish church.
‘But such is the lot of a local church organist, and Eanna happily gives over his weekends to enhance liturgical events with his music.’
McKenna had a passion for church music from a young age, when he joined Bride Street Childrens Choir.
Already a piano student, he became interested in the church organ when he had to leave the choir after his voice broke, and he then started to go for tuition in organ-playing.
A former pupil of St Peter’s College, McKenna showed tremendous promise at an early age, and was still at school when he became a repetiteur for Wexford Light Opera Society. Also while in school, he was asked to form and direct Rowe Street junior choir.
He went on to receive a BA in Maths and Music in UCD, and later a B. Mus, while he simultaneously took organ lessons with Professor David Lee at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
McKenna once expressed his disgust when a newspaper featured a group of children pretending to drink champagne.
‘In my opinion, this photo was totally unsuitable as it depicts girls aged eight and nine about to drink champagne. As a teacher, I try to encourage my pupils to abstain from drinking alcohol until they are 18.
‘A picture such as the one that appeared in your newspaper gives children the opposite message, ie that drinking alcohol is quite acceptable for children aged eight and nine. I suggest that in future more thought should be given to the content of photos published in your newspaper.’