Tributes paid at McKeever removal

The removal took place in Roundwood, Co Wicklow this evening of adventurer and mountaineer Ian McKeever, who was killed by lightning on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, last week.

Mr McKeever’s remains arrived at St Laurence O'Toole’s Church earlier tonight.

Villages in north County Wicklow came to a standstill as the funeral cortege, led by a Garda escort, made its way to McKeever’s family church in the hilltop village of Roundwood.

Mr McKeever, who was known for his record-breaking climbs and charity fundraising, was killed by lightning on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, on January 2nd as he led a team of some 20 amateur climbers including his fiancée, Anna O’Loughlin.

Welcoming Mr McKeever’s father Neil, mother Aedeen, sister Denise and fiancée Anna O’Loughlin, Fr Liam Belton said people had come to know what the word “challenge” meant "as a result the leadership of Ian McKeever".

Fr Belton told a capacity congregation, which included Adi Roche of Chernobyl Children International and Gordon MacAnbhaird of Kilimanjaro Achievers Charity, that through leadership and charity, the late adventurer had shown people “how to get the best out of themselves”.

Fr Belton said Mr McKeever had been baptised in the same church, the Church of St Laurence O’Toole, some 42 years previously and was “a huge Christian person”.

In a short reflection, he said the first mountain Mr McKeever had climbed was “Croagh Patrick, the holy mountain”. He said Mr McKeever had been hugely interested in sport in school, and the number of representatives of sporting and charitable organisations who had travelled long distances to attend the removal was a tribute to the late mountaineer's character.

Fr Belton said death had come “like a thief in the night”, and he offered the prayers of the congregation for the principal mourners so that they might come to terms with the magnitude of what had happened.

The principal mourners were supported by both the extended McKeever and O’Loughlin families. The pall bearers included friends and family members Lorcan Sweetman, Eugene Grey, Gordon MacAnbhaird and Paul McCormack.

Thanking the capacity crowd for coming out to show their respect, Fr Belton said it would be a fitting “monument to Ian” if the mourners would “think about where we are in the Christian church” as they made their way home.

In a statement yesterday, Mr McKeever’s family had said they were “overwhelmed by the magnitude of condolences and tributes paid to Ian” which they said was a testament to the “wonderful work that he did for the benefit of others”.

Mr McKeever will be cremated in a private ceremony tomorrow after requiem Mass at 11.30am in Roundwood.