RIP: Longford shocked by death of accomplished businessman, footballer and ploughman Mickey Keogh

There was a mixture of deep regret and shock in the parish of Mullinalaghta last Wednesday, April 16, at word of the unexpected passing of Michael (Mickey) Keogh, Roselawn, Naas, and formerly of Culleenmore, which took place at Naas General Hospital after a short illness. 

Mickey was a son of the late Michael and Rose Keogh and was one of seven children. After his education in Clooneen National School and Granard Vocational School, Mickey worked in business, initially in Masterson’s hardware shop in Abbeylara and later on in Kildare, where he met and married the love of his life Marian Conway and they settled down in Naas and reared their family. 

Michael was a great character and storyteller and of a friendly and sociable disposition and this served him well in business, where he set up his own very successful company in Athgarvan Grain and had a great bond with his many loyal customers and employees. 

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Mickey was also an accomplished ploughman and was a leading figure in the ploughing fraternity in his adopted county. 

Mickey was in great health until his recent short illness and battled it with characteristic bravery, being active until the last. 

It is on the football field, however, that Mickey’s reputation will long endure in Mullinalaghta. Mickey was a key player on the Mullinalaghta team between 1967 and 1981, first as a midfielder and then as an impactful full-forward. 

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He was one of the club’s star players during that period and always gave 100% effort on the field. He played a crucial role in Mullinalaghta’s victory in the 1977 Junior championship final, the club’s first championship trophy in over a quarter of a century, scoring 2-1 in the final against Ballymore, hitting the roof of the net early in the second half with a volley that turned the game around. In his final game with the club in Shroid, he scored a spectacular goal from 25 yards out having soloed the ball from midfield. 

His battles with the late Jimmy “The Cooper” Reilly of Ballymore were and still are legendary in both clubs. As well as being a key player on the field, Mickey was also an indispensable volunteer and official for the club during that period. Having moved to Kildare, he won Junior and Intermediate championships with Naas in 1982 and 1983. 

Mickey’s heart always remained in his home place, and he was a loyal supporter of Mullinalaghta GAA down through the years and always supported them in fundraising and took great delight in their recent successes. He will be greatly missed in the area and the large numbers from the parish who travelled to Naas on Friday and Saturday for his wake and funeral bear witness to the great respect and affection in which he was held. 

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He is deeply missed by his heartbroken wife Marion, his daughters Maria and Sinéad, his son Rob and his partner Megan, his sister Mary, his brothers James, Pat, Kevin, John, and Peter, his brothers and sisters-in-law, his nieces and nephews, his relatives, the Conway family, his neighbours, a huge circle of friends in many parts of the country and in particular his great friends in Athgarvan Grain to all of whom we extend our deepest condolences. His repose took place at his residence on Friday, with the removal taking place on Saturday to the Church of Our Lady and St David, Naas, where his funeral service was followed by burial at St. Corban's Cemetery.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal agus dílís.

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