Former Derry GAA player, manager and county chairman Jim McKeever was described as a “giant of Gaelic games” at his funeral on Friday.
Tributes have poured in since the death of the former Ballymaguigan player on Wednesday, with Derry GAA chairman John Brennan describing him as “an affable man and a leader”.
At his funeral at the Church of our Lady of the Assumption in Magherafelt on Friday morning, parish priest Fr John Gates described him as “gentleman Jim” as he paid tribute in a moving homily to the “loving husband, father, grandfather and brother”.
Read more: Jim McKeever: Tributes to former Derry GAA player, manager and chairman 'gentleman'
Addressing mourners at the Church on Friday, the parish priest said: “We gather this Good Friday to say farewall to Jim McKeever, a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother, a man who was dedicated to his family and to his faith, a giant of the GAA. With his passing this parish has lost a highly valued and extremely loyal parishioner, and I know the GAA family has lost someone who was steeped in all that was and is Gaelic games.”
He continued: “You all have your own memories of Jim, many stories – enough stories to write books, memories from childhood right up, precious, precious memories that you will recall, that you will speak of, in the days, the weeks and the months that lie ahead. In that way, you will always remain close to Jim and keep his memory alive until we are all reunited once more.”
He added: “Jim McKeever was born on the sixth of December 1930 in his beloved Ballymaguigan, one of nine children to Frances and Annie McKeever. He went to St Trea's Primary School and then, I believe, went to Rainey for a year where he even tried his hand at rugby before transferring as a boarder to St Malachy’s College on the Antrim Road in Belfast.
"After St Malachy’s he went to St Joseph’s teacher training college and trained as a teacher. He initially taught in Downpatrick and then moved a bit closer home to Ballylifford Primary school in the parish of Ballinderry. After two to three years teaching there, he was appointed as sports lecturer at St Patrick’s teaching college and then remained there for over 30 years until his retirement.”
Fr Gates continued: “Jim’s life was a life of service to his community in one way or another. Extremely popular and known as gentleman Jim for so he was. He was widely known for his quiet and gentle ways. He was at one time vice chair of the NI sports council, but a farmer’s son at heart.
"In 1995 Jim and Theresa retired and settled here in Magherafelt. Jim loved his long and happy retirement for, being a family man at heart, he was able to spend quality time with his family – especially his beloved grandchildren. That was never more obvious than in recent days as Jim’s health worsened and declined, when his family and extended family surrounded him night and day.”
He added: “In fact, you could say they walked him to the very gates of heaven.”
Following the service, he was taken to the cemetery at the Church of St Trea, Newbridge for interment.
He is described in a family notice as "beloved husband of Teresa; loving father of Anne (Landers), Eamonn, Maeve, Deirdre (McGuire) and Jim; son of the late Francis and Annie and dear brother of Bella, Eddie, Bridie and the late Mary, Sean, Denis, Rita and Frank; loving grandfather of Hannah, Hailey, Clare, Ellen, Leo, Aine and Anna; and Father-in-law of Matt, Jennifer, Ambrose and Cath."
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