A dedicated teacher who inspired countless pupils

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    1892
    Mr Eamonn Keaveney

    HUNDREDS of people gathered in Castlewellan recently for the funeral of well-respected local man Mr Eamonn Keaveney. A moving tribute was paid to the former St Malachy’s High School teacher by his eldest son, Finbarr, as part of the Requiem Mass.

    Born in Enniskillen on the 19th of June 1938, he was the eldest of 11 children and studied at St Michael’s College, Enniskillen, where he showed a natural flair for PE and Mathematics. A dedicated student, who rarely missed a day, this was rewarded by annual summer scholarships to the Gaeltacht in Donegal, where he learned about the Irish language and culture. Eamonn was an altar boy and a member of the choir in St Michael’s Choral Society.

    He took up boxing in his spare time, with a local police sergeant encouraging him and others to use the sports facilities at the town’s barracks. His father, James, died suddenly when Eamonn was just 17 – leaving his mother Agnes a widow at 36. All of a sudden, Eamonn was cast in the role of guardian of the Keaveney clan. Times were hard but Eamonn’s mother encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher.

    Once accepted for college, each Monday he would get up at 4am to get a lift from Enniskillen to Belfast, long before the M1 motorway was built. After he qualified, he found it difficult to get a fulltime teaching post and, fortuitously, it was then that he made a bold decision which was to change the course of his life.

    There was a vacancy for a full-time PE teacher at the Saint Louis Teacher Training College in Zonkwa, Nigeria. So Eamonn headed off on a plane to Africa in 1965 to take up this post. There he met Josephine Cassidy, a young teacher from Trory in Fermanagh and after a whirlwind romance they married. The St Louis nuns made the bride’s dress, the cake and paid for the wedding reception.

    The newlyweds lived in a house within the college compound and even had their own chef from the nearby village. They welcomed their firstborn, Finbarr, whilst living there. But, after 18 months of marriage, a civil war broke out and it was too dangerous to stay.

    The young family travelled back to Ireland when Eamonn was offered a job at St Malachy’s High School. Here, he was liked by pupils for his easy-going approach and was a popular member of staff, who made friends for life with his colleagues.

    ‘Master Keaveney,’ as he was known, loved his pupils. All of them were important to him. Years later, after he had retired from teaching, Eamonn got a job delivering the Yellow Pages telephone book. Jo would drive him around the local roads of Kilcoo, Backaderry and Clanvaraghan, and Eamonn would meet former students, who had built themselves beautiful houses with magnificent views. He often marvelled at how well they had done for themselves.

    Eamonn loved music and had a great tenor voice with a soaring range and a great ability to remember the lyrics of songs. He taught himself the Bass guitar and, along with his great friend Michael McGrady, they formed a band called The Night People with Michael Niblett and Joe Morgan and played at many local weddings and functions as well as bars and hotels.

    Eamonn was a very sociable man. He was ‘old school’ and always dressed in a shirt and tie even after he retired. He enjoyed the craic and conversation and good company in the local pubs.

    A religious man with a simple faith, who attended Mass weekly, in later life Eamonn was a daily Mass goer and a daily communicant. He was a valued member of the choir at St Malachy’s Church and was renowned for having a sweet tenor voice. He was a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul, and helped organise the annual Trócaire Lenten fast with his pupils. Over the years he also drove the parish minibus, bringing the elderly to bingo, helped run the church youth club and also enjoyed visiting local nursing homes, where he would sing for the residents.

    At the age of 79 Eamonn was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia. He gave up alcohol and started to frequent cafes in Castlewellan and Newcastle where he would enjoy coffee, a full fry and a friendly chat. Five years after his diagnosis, Eamonn moved to Greenvale Residential and Nursing Home and met a whole new group of friends, and where he was cared for with great affection and support.

    In addition to his beloved wife, Mr Keaveny is survived by his seven children, grandchildren, and extended family circle. Last Wednesday’s Requiem Mass was conducted Fr Colin Crossey.

    In the days following his death, a number of tributes were paid to him and condolences expressed to his family. Eileen O’Hara, principal at St Malachy’s High School, said Mr Keaveney would ‘be fondly remembered by many’ and added that he was ‘a true gentleman in every sense of the word’.

    The local principal stated that Mr Keaveney had ‘dedicated his career to teaching Mathematics, inspiring countless students with his passion for the subject and his unwavering commitment to their success’.  Noting that his retirement, in 1994, left behind ‘a legacy of professionalism, kindness, and a love for learning,’ she added that beyond his contributions in the classroom ‘Eamonn had a rich and varied life’.

    She concluded: ‘In his early career, he taught in Africa, bringing his talents to a global stage. He was also deeply musical, sharing his love for music with those around him – a quality that added so much to his character and his interactions with our school community. ‘His presence enriched our school, and his memory will remain a cherished part of our history’.

    Castlewellan GAA and Castlewellan Town FC were also amongst those extending sympathies to his loved ones.

     

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