A unique Aladdin’s cave in Tyrrellspass

(Above)Ben Keegan with his neighbour, hairdresser, Laura Morgan, and his street art creations at Main Street, Tyrrellspass.

“Ebullient” best describes Ben Keegan of Tyrrellspass, who invited us to his home this week to view his latest creation, ‘Chimney Stacking’, a piece of street art featuring a collection of chimney cowls mounted on a centuries-old stone plinth, once the hall door step to his home.

As we chatted, Ben recalled adventures of his past, like the time he masqueraded as an Arab Sheikh at the Galway Races and the time he had drinks with the late Princess Diana in London. He remembers fondly trips to the Ascot Races, fully rigged out in his top hat and tails.

When we visited him, Ben was getting ready to attend the church ceremony of a local wedding to which he was taking along his penny ha’penny ornamental bicycle festooned with potted plants to add to the display on the altar. After that, he was having 16 friends over to his house for dinner.

Ben is clearly a popular member of the community for as we stood outside his hall door every passer-by had a friendly salute for him.

Inside, he took us on a tour of his house, an Aladdin’s cave of objets d’art which he admitted had more aesthetic than monetary value and much of which he had picked up in charity shops.

The blend combines, however, to make an interesting eclectic collection and gives an insight into the expansive mind and artistic appreciation of this gentleman.

From his house, he took us next door to meet hairdresser, Laura Morgan, her colleague, Sharon Healy, and their customers, Bríd Hannon, Breda Fennelly and Maura Glynn, who were surprised, but not put out by the appearance of the local press. It seems that nothing is strange when Ben is involved.

Laura is, in Ben’s words, “a great young one who does extremely well” in her emporium and he urged that we include her telephone number in our article to boost trade (044 9221665).

One gets the impression that people rarely say no to Ben, such is the forcefulness of his character and his enthusiasm.

It has not been an easy lockdown for Ben, not because he felt alone or isolated, but because he had two near death experiences. First ,he was struck down by prostate cancer, but that did not keep him down long and he made a good recovery until sepsis struck, and after his battle with that, which involved a lengthy stay in hospital, he contracted Covid-19 and was back in hospital for several weeks more.

However, the “miracle man” is well on the mend and is tirelessly exploring ways of expressing his artistic flair and his fondness for people.

If you happen to be in Tyrrellspass any time soon, watch out for his ‘Chimney Stacking’, or whatever new creation he has devised outside his front door.