Borrisokane and Tipperary GAA mourn hurling legend Mackey McKenna
Funeral details confirmed of much loved player and character
The death has taken place of former Tipperary All-Ireland senior hurling winning forward John ‘Mackey’ McKenna, at the age of 87.
The Borrisokane native won 2 North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championships with his beloved Borrisokane in 1958 and 1973.
He joined the Tipperary senior panel in 1961 and won the first of four All-Ireland senior hurling medals later that year and added three more in 1962, 64 & 65.
He also won six Munster Championship medals in 1961, 62, 64, 65, 67 & 68. He also has 4 National League medals from 1961, 64, 65 & 68, while he also won a Railway Cup with Munster in 1966.
In August, McKenna was present at the launch of a monument unveiled in his honour at Gardiner Park, in Borrisokane, which was launched by current Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill.
Mackey also played a brief spell with Burgess in later years after moving to Newtown where he was married to Bernadette Nealon, sister of his Tipperary team-mate Donie Nealon.
John ‘Mackey’ McKenna is survived by his wife Bernadette, children Laureen, John, Ruairí and Aoife, brother Tony, sister Philomena, cherished grandchildren Malachy, Cathal, Juliette, Páraic, Conn and Eoin Mackey, daughters-in-law Elaine and Claire, sons-in-law Owen and Jon, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Predeceased by his parents Malachy and Agnes and his siblings Paddy, Joe, Mal, Mike, Ger, Marguerite, Frank, Paul, Tim, Vincent, Noel and John.
Reposing on Saturday 25th October at The Church of the Holy Spirit Youghalarra, (Newtown, Nenagh, E45 HD98), from 2.00pm until 4.30pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday at 11.00am in Newtown, followed by burial in Nenagh Road Cemetery, Borrisokane. Mackey's Funeral Mass can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeiRofKwA9iCCDSHYYs2dg
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of St. Conlon's Home Nenagh and the Acute Coronary Care Unit, University Hospital Limerick for the excellent care shown to Mackey during his final illness.