Longford saddened by death of accomplished accordion player and devoted family man Mickey Keville

Its with much sadness and genuine regret we record the death of Mickey Keville which occurred on Tuesday, August 13 last at his home in Springpark, Coolarty in the loving care of his wife Mairead and family.

Mickey had been in failing health for sometime but his death came as a shock to his family and his many friends.

Mickey was an accomplished accordion player and many will have great memories of him sitting at McElvaney's counter entertaining his audience and supporting a good 'Sing Song' which would be led by Mairead and her great friend the late Veronica Reilly.

Mickey worked in St Patrick's in Cavan for a number of years and it was here that he met the love of his life Mairead Fleming from Ballinagh and they celebrated 50 years of happy marriage recently and indeed they were a great couple who worked and lived for their family, Martin and Ann Marie.

When Mickey left Cavan he was employed as a Tractor driver for Granard Farms in Coolarty and he would call to many local farms with his tank of slurry and he was very popular with all. Indeed he loved telling stories about different places he called to and people he met and it is fair to say that it was best to take some of these tales with the proverbial pinch of salt as he had a very witty and fun filled way of telling his stories.

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In more recent times when he retired he loved attending the Markets or Car boot sales and I have no doubt that he often came home with items that Mairead would consider dust gatherers.

Mickey loved working and repairing old clocks and he had a great collection of these and he was often called upon to repair engines for neighbours and friends or maybe sharpen a chainsaw and of course he was always very obliging and helpful without ever counting the cost.

He was a man of deep faith and attended Mass in his beloved St Mary's every week and also encouraged others to do likewise.

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Mickey's remains reposed in the family home on Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday evening, August 15 and big crowds passed through to say a fond farewell to a much loved husband, father grandfather and great grandfather and a kind gentle and helpful neighbour who will be sorely missed.

On Friday morning Mickey made his final journey to St Mary's for his funeral Mass and he was laid to rest in the family plot in Granardkill cemetery. We offer sincere sympathy to his wife Mairead, son Martin, daughter Annemarie, his adored grandchildren Ryan, Danielle, Adam, Charlie and Ruby, great-grandson Kolton, daughter-in-law Lorraine, Annemarie’s partner Stephen, relatives, friends and neighbours. May he rest in peace. 

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