Leitrim mourns death of valued member of the Poet Higgins Society

It was with sadness that we heard of the death of Nancy McKeown, née Bohan, Drumcong and formerly of Cattan, on Tuesday, July 25.

She reposed at her home in Drumcong on Wednesday, July 26 and Thursday, July 27 with her funeral mass being celebrated in St Brigid’s Church on Friday, July 28 and her burial afterwards in Drumcong cemetery.

Nancy was a valued member of the Poet Higgins Society who in 2011 published the writings of Pat ‘the Poet’ Higgins (1832 – 1902) and erected a monument to his memory in his home townland of Cloncoose.

Nancy was custodian of his collection of poems which were handed down by her grandfather, John Bohan, Cattan who had the foresight to document the poems of this renowned 19th century poet at his heart fire.

We will be forever thankful to her for giving the Society access to her archives and sharing Higgins’ precious writings with the world.

In 2011 when the Drumgownagh School Reunion was underway, Nancy was a great help on the committee and contributed a very informative article detailing life as a child on a small farm in Cattan.

Her love for her childhood locality was evident when she managed to get some musicians to compose a tune to the words of a poem by The Poet Higgins titled “Cloncoose Shore”.

Nancy was always a very pleasant person and a chat with her was sure to lift your spirits. 

Predeceased by her husband Tom, we offer our sympathies to Nancy's daughter Louise, son Adrian, son-in-law Michael, daughter-in-law Doreen, grandchildren Daniel, Darragh, Isabella and Ralph, relatives, neighbours and friends.

God be good to Nancy and may she rest in peace.