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FINAL WHISTLE  SOUNDS  FOR  LION HEARTED  SLIGO G.A.A. PLAYER

Former Sligo G.A.A. great Jim Killoran passed to his eternal reward in mid January, just two weeks short of his eighty first birthday. Born and reared in Cartron, Ballinafad on the western slopes of the Curlieu mountains, an idyllic setting overlooking beautiful Lough Arrow, Jim attended the local school in Ballinafad, just yards from his home, before going on to receive his next level education in Boyle a mere five miles away. It was here in Boyle that the first signs of his natural footballing talent began to show, so much so that the shrewd Roscommon men first got a hold on him through his displays for Boyle, culminating in Jim turning out for Roscommon in the Connacht minor championship of 1954. However the lure and the love of his native county took precedence after 1954 and Jim made his debut in 1956 for the Sligo junior team which went on to win the Connacht championship. For the next ten years Jim gave every ounce of his energy to the noble cause of Sligo senior football, though being badly hampered in executing this through his work in England. No cheap flights, no phones, dodgy trains, few restaurants or cafes and long choppy sailings were the order of the day for Jim as they were for county colleagues of the day, also honouring the native calling, like Brendan McAuley, Paddy Christie and a few others.
Standing six feet tall, broad shouldered and built like a tank Jim played for Sligo in the forwards, the backs and even at midfield, however his favoured position was full back where he used his wonderful leap and safe hands to gather the ball and emerge with it, normally by the shortest route. His timing of the shoulder charge and also the hip charge were uncanny and how often did we see him leave an opponent dispossessed and on the deck using this legal measure. Many wonderful displays for Sligo followed including the memorable Connacht Final of 1965 in which Sligo perhaps should have won, three points up at half time but beaten in the end by a great Galway team in the middle years of a famous three in a row of All Irelands. Several clubs in England benefitted from Jim’s talent while here at home Boyle, Inisfree and particularly Keash were the main beneficiaries. Traditional music was another great love of Jim’s and he could be seen at several of the local sessions while all other sports enthralled him, particularly horse racing and soccer with his beloved Liverpool and Sligo Rovers of course being his favoured sides.
Jim’s funeral mass took place at St Joseph’s Church, Ballytivnan on Tuesday January 17th followed by burial in Aughanagh cemetery Ballinafad and what an occasion that turned out to be.  Ballinafad  neighbours, joined by playing colleagues of old and members of Calry St Josephs and Eastern Harps formed a guard of honour as his coffin was carried high by former playing colleagues and neighbours. The priest spoke eloquently and beautifully about his life in the early years and also his final ones in Sligo town. The atmosphere was solemn yet so dignified. The weather outside was mild, no sunshine yet so benign as if  the heavens were eager to pay homage to the great hearted deceased. The church music was so appropriate and the melodies so haunting. Tears were scarce as an atmosphere of a life lived to the full prevailed. It was more a celebration of a life than the mourning of a death. Many stories were recalled and many many hands were shaken as friends and playing colleagues of old met up to chat once more. And then off to the graveyard, entering Ballinafad by the most easterly route. A sixty second stop was scheduled at the white piers of Cartron, a silent tribute to Jim, where former Sligo playing colleagues, some having travelled from Dublin and Kerry, recalled picking Jim up from his scenic former home and leaving him off at the same white piers of home so often. 


And so on to the graveyard at Aughanagh right on the shores of stunning Lough Arrow where friends had prepared Jim’s final resting place along with his father and mother. As the priest recited the final prayers Jim’s friends each threw a red rose into the grave as a symbol of a lasting goodbye to a dear friend and a loyal Sligo G.A.A. man. Then the grave was closed and Jim was on his way. Up, up and away to his destination, to that great beyond. To engage again with Cathal, Bill, Mick, Danny and many other deceased colleagues. Then just one hundred metres away something else happened. The neighbour next door opened his hangar door, drove out his airplane into the still waters of Lough Arrow, revved up the engines and seconds later he too was on his way. Up, up and away. On business.  He soon returned.  Jim won’t be returning. Such is the difference between life and death. The poignancy and timing of it all was remarkable.  But Jim is happy too. He lived his life to the full. He adored his county. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
                                  “ Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam dilis”


Lean na CLairsigh
Bye for now
P J McKeon   for Kerry McKeon  R.I.P.