Former Mayo minor from Kilmaine dies in Canada

Former Mayo minor dies in Canada


Michael Commins

KILMAINE native Joe Kilgallon, who won a Connacht minor championship medal with Mayo when they defeated Galway in 1954, died suddenly at his home in Vineland, Ontario, Canada on the day before his 75th birthday.
Joe was an accomplished footballer in his young days and was always proud of his Connacht medal. Mayo were on a roll at the time, having won the All Ireland senior crowns in 1950 and ‘51 and the All Ireland minor title in 1953. The ‘54 squad lost to Dublin in the semi-final.
He came to the attention of the Mayo selectors after some sterling displays with Kilmaine and his school team, Ballinrobe CBS.
Like so many of his generation, Joe left Mayo at a young age and emigrated to Canada in 1956. He was employed in the mining industry in northern Ontario for many years and put down deep roots in his adopted country. While always professing a great allegiance to Canada, he never lost his love for his native country and especially Kilmaine and Mayo.
He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbanus, volunteering to work with the underprivileged and putting that sense of caring and sharing that he inherited from his upbringing in Mayo to the betterment of mankind in Ontario.
Joe, who was predeceased by his sons Kelly and John and also by his brothers Jack and Michael and sister Mary (Donnellan), is survived by his wife Patsy and daughter Bridget, his sister Celia Harte (Catskill, NY), brothers Thomas (Naperville, Illinois), James (Ballyshannon), Patrick (Dublin) and sister Ita Morrin (Cong), nephews, nieces, in-laws, relatives, neighbours and friends. He was remembere at Masses in his native Kilmaine.