Sadness over death of Westmeath football legend Georgie Keane
Former Westmeath football star Georgie Keane from Rosemount will be laid to rest in Dublin today (Thursday).
A member of a very renowned sporting family from Rosemount, Georgie passed away on Monday last following a brief illness.
Keane was part of the Westmeath team which defeated then All-Ireland champions Down in a National Football League game in 1969, amid bitterly cold conditions in Carrickmacross. And Keane scored 1-1 when Westmeath pushed Kerry close in the NFL semi-final that year, with the Kingdom going on to lift the Sam Maguire Cup later in the year.
In the 1960 Leinster championship, Keane twice scored 2-4 in games against Laois and Kildare, and the talented forward was selected as the 'Irish Independent Sports Star of the Week’ following his display in the Kildare game.
Georgie won two Sigerson Cup medals with University College Dublin, an educational institution with which he had a long association through sport and his work.
He was selected on the Combined Universities team on a number of occasions and was a winner of two O'Byrne Cup (when the competition meant more than it does nowadays) medals with Westmeath.
Georgie also demonstrated his football talents when he travelled to the United States of America and was chosen for the Chicago Footballer of the Year award.
And with his home club Rosemount, to whom he always remained loyal, he won Senior League and Feis Cup medals.
Rosemount GAA has paid tribute to Georgie, stating that all involved in the club were "very sad to hear the death of former Rosemount great George Keane. George was a very talented footballer, and represented both Rosemount and Westmeath with distinction. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends".
Georgie's footballing prowess has been carried on by many members of his extended family including nephews Cathal (an All-Ireland minor medal winner with Westmeath in 1995) and John Keane (a Leinster SFC medallist in 2004 and twice an All-Star).
Dr George (Georgie) Keane ('Georgie Kane') of Steelstown, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin and formerly Rosemount, Co. Westmeath died on July 10.
He is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his beloved wife Joan, and loving family Dónal, Shane, Daragh and Siobhán; daughters-in-law Elaine, Jackie, Holly and Siobhán’s partner Paul; his adored grandchildren Orla, Eoin, Kieran, Alánagh, Finn, Molly and Shea; his brothers Hugh, Joe, Johnny and Jimmy; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, carers and his many friends, especially those from his sporting life and his UCD colleagues. George is predeceased by his baby son Finian, parents William & Mary, and brothers Billy, Tony, Pat and Michael.
Arriving to the Church of The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saggart, Co. Dublin for 12.30pm funeral mass today (Thursday), July 13, followed by burial in Saggart Cemetery.
The funeral can be viewed via the following link - https//www.churchservices.tv/saggart
Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.