John Healy
The death has taken place, of Mr. Jimmy Feeney, 15 Riverdale Court, Castlebar, one of the best known musicians in the west of Ireland.
Ager 88, the late Mr Feeney was a native of Galway but had spent all of his adult life in Castlebar.
A former member of the staff of Mayo General Hospital, it is as a musician that he was best known.
He had first come to Castlebar in the early 40s to join the famed Stephen Garvey Orchestra, and subsequently played with all of the region’s top dance bands. During his musical career, Jimmy Feeney had the distinction of having performed in each of the 32 counties of Ireland.
Jimmy Feeney was also a stalwart member of Castlebar Concert Band, acknowledged by his fellow band members as the father of the orchestra.
Predeceased by his wife Una (nee Egan), he is suvived by his sons Noel, Tommie, Jimmy, Bobby and Michael, his daughters Marie (Shiel), Agnes (Larkin) and Jacinta (Ryan), and brothers Tom and Joe.
Removal of remains took place on Sunday evening from the Coady Funeral Home and he was laid to rest in the New Cemetery following Requiem Mass at the Church of the Holy Rosary, members of the Concert Band and fellow musicians providing musical tribute and the guard of honour.