Tubbercurry native & founder of prestigious law practice passes away

The death took place in Drogheda recently of Stephen Keaveny, Kells, Co Meath and formerly of Rhue, Tubbercurry. His father, James Keaveny, hailed from Gorterslin, Tourlestrane and his mother, Winifred, was a member of the Marren family from Killasser, Co. Mayo.

Born in 1926, he commenced his education when he walked down the railway-line from his home to Tubbercurry Boys` N.S. He later attended Tubbercurry vocational school.

Upon finishing school, he took a part-time job in the local post office delivering telegrams or “wires” as they were popularly called. When he was 16 years old he took up a position as a solicitor`s clerk.

He showed a great aptitude for legal matters and his superior encouraged him to study law. At first Stephen was reluctant to take to the studies again but later relented, bought the books and knuckled down to work. One by one he passed his exams and in the final law exams he took 1st place in Ireland.

Having qualified as a solicitor he founded Stephen Keaveny & Co. Solicitors in Kells, Co. Meath.

He was a man of the utmost integrity and he built up one of the most prestigious legal practices in Leinster. He worked in the company right up to his illness, covering a period of 75 years dealing with law matters.

Stephen was predeceased by his brothers, Seán, Michael and Monsignor Pádraic and his sisters Elizabeth, Joan and Breda – all born in Rhue, Tubbercurry.

The Keavenys were a uniquely successful family and they distinguished themselves in the fields of agriculture, education and law and Monsignor Pádraic when ministering in England played a leading role organising the National Pastoral Congress which took place in Liverpool in 1980 and also in the preparations for the Papal visit of John Paul 11 to England in 1982 after which he was made a Papal Chaplain.

Although he had left the Tubbercurry area many years ago, Stephen is still remembered by football followers in South Sligo from an incident that took place during the 1944 All-Ireland senior football final in which neighbouring county Roscommon were playing Kerry.

All the neighbours including Stephen had gathered in a house in Cashel to hear a commentary of the game on an old battery charged radio.

Shortly into the game the radio gave up and Stephen, then a teenager, got a screwdriver, opened the back of the radio and proceeded to solve the problem.

Within minutes the voice of Michael O’Hehir came booming out of the radio loud and clear, “Bill Carlos has the ball for Roscommon”, to the cheers of all present.

Thanks to Stephen all heard the full commentary of the match and were left cheering at the end when Roscommon won the final.

KEAVENY Stephen January 17, 2018 (‘Linden’, Kells, Co. Meath) peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. Beloved husband of Mona and loving father of Séamus, Melanie, Tom, Stephen and Michael. Recently predeceased by his daughter-in-law Audrey.

He will be sadly missed by all including his son-in-law Pat, daughters-in-law Elizabeth and Fionnuala, grandchildren Jason, James and Michael, sisters-in-law Isey and Thérèse, nephews, nieces, colleagues and friends. Rest in Peace. Removal took place to St. Colmcilles Church, Kells and burial followingr funeral Mass afterwards at St. éColmcilles Cemetery, Kells