Heartbreak at the death of 41-year-old PJ
THE tragic death of a 41-year-old father-of-three on Sunday morning has left local communities numbed and ‘sick with grief’. PJ Kehoe, 41, from Monamolin, Rathnure, is survived by his wife Pamela; children, Cathal, Eoghan and Niamh; parents, Peter and Mary; brothers James and Paddy, sisters Catherine, Liz and Theresa and the late Maura, parents-in-law Maurice and Joanie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives and a large circle of friends. He was predeceadsed by his sister Maura,
His remains are reposing at his residence today (Tuesday), followed by removal on Wednesday at 10.30 a.m. to St. Anne’s Church, Rathnure, arriving for funeral Mass at 11 a.m., followed by private cremation.
A fitter by trade, PJ worked in Waterford. He attended Rathnure NS and New Ross Vocational College before going on to work. He spent some time in Australia before returning to Wexford. He married Pamela Roche from New Ross and they had three children together, PJ lived by the side of the Blackstairs Mountains and spent countless hours climbing mountains, while also enjoying playing for St Anne’s GAA Club in Rathnure at underage level.
Always active in his community and willing to lend a hand, PJ was involved in an U14 St Anne’s reunion when they celebrated the anniversary of winning the feile.
A friend of the family said: ‘It’s heartbreaking. He was just a good lad. You were always the better off when PJ was around. He raised everyone’s spirits. The whole community is sick with grief over another senseless death.’
Another member of the Rathnure community said: ‘There was a buzz in the community after Rathnure beating Cloughbawn on Friday night, but it all pales to insignificance now.’ In 2015 PJ took on his greatest challenge, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise more than €5,000 for the Irish Cancer Society. He raised another €1,500 for the Hope Centre, Enniscorthy, mainly through a fundraising hurling match. PJ recently completed a Five Steps event and was planning on doing the Wayfarer’s Walk in his beloved mountains later this month.