JAMES (JIMMY) KEENAN

The greyhound industry is saddened to learn of the passing of James (Jimmy) Keenan of Newry, Co. Armagh

A well-known and extremely popular figure, Jimmy raced his greyhounds under the ‘Meadowview’ prefix and would have been in regular attendance in recent years at the likes of Lifford, Drumbo Park and Dundalk.

Jimmy started his journey in Greyhound racing with Mickey Matthew’s of Newry and he helped train the great Dillies Pigalle, who as well as winning the Irish Coursing Derby at Clonmel, also landed the prestigious McAlevey Gold Cup in 1966 at Celtic Park, while smashing the National 525-yard record in the process.

Having maintained a fond interest on all things coursing and a regular attendee of the National Meeting at Powerstown Park, Jimmy actually got his great track line from a Trial Stake winner on the field, Meadow Pond. Indeed, when mated to Ballinderry Ash, she produced a string of top-class performers such as Go On Jamso and Black Ash Pond to name but a few.

In more recent years, Jimmy would have regularly ventured to Shelbourne Park had he had a suitable tracker and Meadowview Dove certainly fell into that bracket. An Open class performer, he reached the semi finals of the 2014 Irish Derby Plate, which would have been very satisfying for Jimmy and his immediate Family, especially his Wife, Kay, who was always a great help to Jimmy with the dogs. 

FUNERAL DETAILS TO FOLLOW