Killeen, Stephen (Staff)
December 14, 2012
Massive turn-out marks passing of true South Galway legend
There was widespread sadness in South Galway last week as news spread of the passing of Stephen (Staff) Killeen, Gort, one of the best known personalities in the region.
His spectacular funeral reflected the multiplicity of his friends, setting him apart as a doyen of the supporters of Irish cultural traditions.
Stephen Killeen made friends easily, given his positive disposition and enthusiasm. He was proud of the heritage and history of Beagh, the northern portion of which was annexed to Gort parish in the early years of the 19th Century. Though his home at Cloonahaha was in that northern portion, Stephen retained traditional allegiance to Beagh. Considering that the founder of the GAA Michael Cusack had been Principal of Beagh's Lough Cutra National School and that hurling was recorded as being a popular sport on Beagh in the 17th Century, it was no surprise that hurling was one of Stephen's great hobbies. In the days of his vigorous youth Stephen played prominently on Beagh hurling teams, winning the County Junior Championship in 1958. He was a faithful follower of county and parish teams.
The last of his countless trips as supporter of Galway hurling was in early September, when though in failing health, he attended Croke Park for the last time, for the All-Ireland Hurling Final against Kilkenny. For half-a-century, Stephen Killeen marked the parades of Galway hurling teams on the N18 through Gort and Beagh on the occasions of their triumphant return from matches in Munster or Leinster.
He never missed an opportunity to prepare and light bon- fires to demonstrate to them a visible welcome home to their county after the exertion of their efforts on behalf of the people of the county. He lit bonfires for victorious football as well as victorious hurling teams. The local community did not forget that encouraging practice. On the morning of the day of removal of the remains from his home at Cloonahaha to St Anne's Church, Shanaglish, bonfires blazed along the route in honour of the man who had done the same so often for others during his lifetime.
The huge bonfire blazing outside Shanaglish Community Centre that morning during the removal of remains to St Anne's Church, Shanaglish, was indicative of the community's respect for Stephen Killeen's love of sports. His sporting heroes included Beagh's Roseingrave brothers, Matt, Tom, Mike and Bill at the close of the 19th Century and Martin Egan of more recent times, as well as the cyclists Mannion brothers of Moylough and world-renowned shot putter Ned Tobin who competed at the Shanaglish Sports in the 1940s. Stephen was a founder of the Shanaglish Athletic Club, a committee member in 1954. Stephen worked in London in the early 1950s and was active in the hurling scene there. He returned to settle down in Cloonahaha. Stephen's children attended school in Gort and played with the school teams, but on reaching adulthood they played with Beagh teams. Martin won an All Ireland minor medal with Galway in 1983 and a county intermediate medal with the Beagh hurling team and Michael won a county minor medal with Beagh.
The Beagh hurling club colours draped the deceased's coffin at the funeral. Members and players of the Beagh Hurling Club formed a guard of honour between St Anne's Church and Shanaglish Graveyard. Officers of the GAA at county and club levels attended the funeral.
Irish traditional music was close to Stephen's heart. In 1961, at Stephen's marriage to his wife Frances, legendary musicians Joe Burke and John Joe Forde played choicest traditional music. Last year, at the celebration in Clarenbridge of their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Joe Burke and John Joe Forde were the featured musicians.
Last week, stories were told in profusion at the traditional wake in Stephen's home. Joe Burke and John Joe Forde played traditional airs there. Dessie Mulcair joined them in the playing of music at the Requiem Mass on Wednesday at Anne's Church, Shanaglish.
During the Offertory of the Mass, Joe Burke played the hauntingly beautiful 17th Century Wild Geese lament, 'Limerick Lamentation'. After the Mass, as the congregation followed the coffin out of the church, there were
rousing renditions of tunes loved by the deceased, "The Bucks of Oranmore' and "The Galway Rambler'. At the graveside, further traditional airs were played.
Stephen's love of music was passed on to his daughters, Siobhan, Geraldine, Olivia and Lourda and to his sons Martin, Michael and Stephen. On the night of the wake in their home, they all sang traditional songs dear to their Dad. At the Requiem Mass next day, Lourda sang the hymn 'Like a Shepherd' and Stephen sang 'In my Father's House'. The Shanaglish Choir sang at the Requiem Mass. Nicola Cahill was organist.
In the Homily at the Requiem Mass, Celebrant Fr Gearoid O'Griofa C.C. Gort, referred to the deceased's many qualities of helpfulness to others, humour and uprightness. The Concelebrants were An t-Athair Micheal O'Braonain S.P., Leitir Mor, and Very Rev Brendan Lawless PP, Portumna.
Stephen Killeen is survived by his wife Frances; by his daughters Geraldine, Siobhan, Olivia and Lourda; by his sons Michael, Martin and Stephen; by his sisters Ena and Peggy, who live in the USA, and by other family relative. His sister Ena made the trip home for the funeral.
Courtesy of The Connacht Tribune.
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