Skills wall and astro facility opens in Wolfe Tones dedicated to the memory of the club stalwart Tom McKeown
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Larry Henry Chairman Wolfe Tones and Johnny Doggett with the famous Land Rover in the background.Image 2 of 4
Charlotte McKeown, Patricia Donegan and Emma Donegan.Image 3 of 4
The McKeown Family assembled under the dedication plaque.Image 4 of 4
The late Tom McKeown (right) with another Wolfe Tones stalwart, Owen Heaney.Despite the poor weather there was an impressive turnout at the Kilberry pitch belonging to Wolfe Tones GAA club on Easter Bank Holiday Monday. This gathering was to officially open the Skills Wall and Astro facility and to unveil a plaque dedicating this wonderful new facility to the memory of the late Tom McKeown.
Tom McKeown was a stalwart of the GAA and a great promoter of hurling in north Meath particularly. This tradition has been upheld by the sons and grandson of Tom McKeown all being actively involved in both hurling and football.
Larry Henry, chairman of the Wolfe Tones club spoke of the long connection between his family and the McKeowns and how the late Tom seldom took no for an answer when rounding up players for games.
In attendance amongst the large crowd were Thomas, Bernard and Charlotte McKeown, Tom's children along with his sister Ann and his youngest brother John, home from Canada.
The plaque was unveiled jointly by Paddy Kelly, vice chairman of Meath Co Board and Sean McKeown,Tom's grandson. Paddy Kelly spoke of his high regard for the McKeown family and of how his own father and Tom McKeown roomed together on some GAA trips.
Thomas McKeown Jr gave a very emotional and frequently amusing speech in tribute to his late father and recounted numerous anecdotes from their childhood attending matches with his dad.
The late Tom McKeown was a player mentor and official within the club over many many years and frequently brought an inordinate (and likely illegal) amount of underage players to matches in the back of his trusty 1975 Land Rover.
In a very fitting tribute to those past times the actual Land Rover was present on the day in Kilberry having been bought back some years ago by the McKeown family. In a final tribute to the late Tom McKeown, master of ceremonies on the day Aidan Jordan presented the family with a silver "Tom McKeown Cup" which will be presented every year to the "Young Hurler of the Year" in the Wolfe Tones club.
Ni bheidh a leitheid arís ann.