Kevin was a quiet and private individual with passion for soccer
A deep and wide outpouring of sympathy was evoked by the untimely death of Kevin Magee 3, Medebawn, Avenue Road, Dundalk, on 3 December, 2017, in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
Aged 48, Kevin, a quiet and private individual, had an unwavering passion for soccer, and it was for his tireless devotion and dedication to the local Woodview junior and schoolboys club, that he was known far and wide, earning the affectionate title of ‘ Mr Woodview’.
The club, of which he was a founder-member and driving force, was a key focus of his life, after his wife, family and work.
The three consumed his time and energy, and to which he dedicated himself with a rare zeal, and was undeterred, despite battling the illness over the past two years that resulted in his demise.
Kevin hailed from Hughes Park, a member of a well-known family synonymous with soccer in town, his late father Thomas (Bunny) a popular referee who started up and managed the schoolboy team, Hill Street Blues.
Kevin derived a great love of the sport and drew inspiration from his father, playing with the team, and then later to help form what became the all-conquering Woodview Celtic, established in 1990.
The club first competed in Dundalk Winter League, and then joined the Meath and District League, ending up its kingpins with a succession of triumphs, including the league and cup double after being promoted as champions, straight through from the third to the premier division.
Woodview, which first played in the Polo Ground, off the Castletown Road, had no facilities, and Kevin’s van was used to carry the gear, and for the players to change.
DKIT afforded the team the use of its pitch, and the club rented other grounds, before acquiring the use of the Fairgreen in 2016 which is now home to the juvenile section.
Kevin filled different vital roles in the club, including chairman and secretary.
He also started an underage team, and now, from having just one team, the club fields sides from under-6 to over-35. By the way, Kevin also latterly managed simultaneously the over-35s as well as the under-11s.
The extent of his commitment is underlined in that the day he entered hospital for the last time, he left a game, and then wanted to know the score in his daughter’s match the day he passed away.
He wore his passion on his sleeve and the referee was never the flavour of the month with him, but once games were over, all was forgotten.
Dundalk was another outlet for his passion for soccer, and he was a fervent supporter, who was a lead chanter in ‘ the Shed’ on match days at Oriel Park.
He was a big follower of Liverpool, and one of ‘Jack’s army’ who followed the national team far and wide, and attended the World Cup finals in Italy in 1990.
In his younger days, he played Gaelic football for the Gaels.
Kevin’s early life saw him gain his formal education at the Friary National School and Saint Mary’s College.
He was the only son and the youngest of the five children of Thomas and Mary Magee, who had four daughters.
He started working life in the customs clearance business, in which he was working, prior to his death, with Portway Customs Clearance in Dublin.
He also worked with the firm in Dundalk, after initially taking up employment in McCanns’ Customs Clearance on the Newry Road.
He then went to work in the oil business with Morgan Fuels in the North, before setting up his own home heating oil business 3C Oils. It was an achievement, of which he was very proud, and like sport, applied the same customary vigour.
However, his wife Carol and two children, Calvin and Caoimhe, were the apples of his eye, and were always his number one priority, regardless of how involved he was in work or sport.
Family life was all-important to Kevin, and he loved taking the children on holiday, spending a lot of time in Turkey and Florida on breaks.
He was blessed with fine health to carry on his busy schedule which he still maintained, despite receiving a disconcerting diagnosis two years ago. He remained very active.
Kevin is very sadly missed by his wife, Carol (née Taaffe); son, Calvin; daughter, Caoimhe; mother, Mary (née Keenan); sisters, Moira, Patricia, Pauline and Helen; brothers- and sistersin-law; Shannon, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends; and throughout the local soccer fraternity, especially the Woodview club, where his legacy and work will remain a lasting and greatly appreciated memory.
He was predeceased by his dad, Thomas; and brother-in-law, Alan Durnin.
After reposing at his residence on the Tuesday, Kevin was taken to The Church of The Holy Family the next morning, with senior members of Woodview providing a Guard of Honour along the way, and the schoolboy players forming another Guard of Honour as he entered the church.
Father Jim O’Connell Adm. celebrated Mass, during which Calvin gave the eulogy.
Kevin’s godchild, Shannon McLaughlin; and children, Calvin and Caoimhe; brought a Woodview flag, a football, Liverpool jersey, cigarettes and a family photograph to the altar as symbols of his life.
Sisters, Patricia and Moira took up the Offertory gifts.
The Readings were given by goddaughter, Shannon; and nephew, David Murtagh.
The Prayers of the Faithful were led by daughter, Caoimhe; nephew, Alan Quigley; brothers-inlaw, Alan McLoughlin and Anthony Taaffe; niece, Leanne Prescott and god-daughter, Jade Taaffe.
The beautiful music was provided by organist, Olivia Finnegan and singer, Karen Jones.