Shock at death of former local curate Fr Phelim

THE death has taken place of Fr Phelim McKeown (48), a former curate in St Patrick’s Parish.

Born in Mullaghbawn, south Armagh, Fr McKeown (right) spent five years in St Patrick’s, Dundalk after he left Maynooth in 1996, and moved to Drogheda in 2001, where he spent seven years in Drogheda, working with Monsignor Donnelly.

Outspoken at times about parishioners’ celebrations of events like christenings and communions, Fr Phelim said he was glad to see them becoming more family orientated again.

He returned to become PP in Kilsaran in 2014 and last year, moved, to the role of Pastor Emeritus and Priest in Residence, Caledon (Aghaloo) where he died suddenly on Sunday.

Tributes were paid to him in the wake of the news of his death, including one that simply read, ‘He was an absolute gentleman, and a wonderful decent Priest, who served the parishioners of St.Peters Parish Drogheda well.’

Fr McKeown was predeceased by his parents Felix and Eileen McKeown and is survived by his brother John and his partner Yvonne, nieces Tracey, Rachel and Sinead, aunts Etta Murphy, Mary, Kathleen, Ann, Moninna and Leontia, his uncles John Joseph, Michael, Peter and Pius and entire family circle and friends.