Danny McKevitt, ‘a soldier, a boxer and a friend’
“A soldier, a boxer and a friend” is how the late Danny McKevitt is remembered by his heartbroken family. The former light middle weight champion died recently, just weeks before his 70th birthday, bringing to an end a life devoted to his country, his sport and his family.
Daniel (Danny) McKevitt of Ashefield, Mullingar, was four times all-Army boxing champion. He was the light middle weight champion in 1972, ‘73 and ‘74. Then, as he could only win it three times, he was made to carry weights in his shorts for the weigh-in and moved up to light heavyweight, which he won in 1975.
Danny also won an all-Ireland light middle weight title and had several Leinster boxing titles and a couple of all-Ireland runner-up medals, outside of the Army.
Around that time, he was playing hurling with Columb Barracks, Mullingar. He was also a gym instructor in the Army and during the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s he coached boxing in town. As he was a fluent Irish speaker, Danny was called upon to hand over the guard whenever a dignitary came to the barracks – a president, minister for defence or the chief of staff.
Danny was educated in St Mary’s CBS and went to secondary school before free education was introduced. He was clever and a brilliant mathematician as well as a fluent Irish speaker. He passed on his love of the Irish language and Irish culture to his children and grandchildren, who all speak Irish to varying degrees, especially, his son Derek and his granddaughter Áine, who is a student teacher.
His son Jason is a well-known local historian and a teacher with the Longford and Westmeath Educational Training Board. “Irish Culture, the Irish Defence Forces and the Irish flag are very important to our family,” Jason told the Westmeath Examiner.
Jason’s brothers Lar and Derek were both in the Army, and served overseas, and Jason served in the Reserve Defence Forces. Their sister Teresa is a poet published under the name Tess McKevitt and she gave the reflection and wrote a poem dedicated to her father, titled ‘The Passing’, which was featured on the Mass booklet during Danny’s funeral service (see below). Their sister Jessica was the family carer and she looked after their father each weekday morning during his latter months.
The late Danny McKevitt loved Irish music and thoroughly enjoyed the two fleadhanna held in Mullingar. He liked to sing, especially to the accompaniment of his son Lar on guitar. Lar is also a vocalist; Jason plays the bodhrán and Derek the banjo. Together they would “have a good old session”, Jason remarked.
Lar has played support with Bagatelle and the Fureys. Jason recalled how, a number of years ago, Lar was recording an EP at the Cronin brothers’ studio in Longford. Shane McGowan, who died recently, was there. He noticed Danny, who still had the “boxer build”, pointed to him laughing and said “Victor McLaglen”, the movie star best known for his role as the boxer in The Quiet Man. “When Lar came out, Shane and dad were enjoying a whiskey and a chat,” Jason recalled.
“He would mix with everyone, he was a people person. He was a character, of his generation, and would often be seen walking around town with his beloved dog, Willow, who only passed away a couple of weeks before Danny,” he added.
In the 1980s and ‘90s, Danny brought many high profile darts players to Mullingar to raise funds for children with disabilities, particularly for South Hill, Delvin, and St Brigid’s School, Mullingar. Jason explained that two of their brothers, Mark and Donal, have ASD, which is what drove Danny and ultimately caused Jason to study and work in special education.
Danny’s removal was from Gilsenan’s Funeral Home. Jason said that Joan Gilsenan and Tony Quinn were “fantastic, absolutely brilliant” in how they conducted the funeral.
Concelebrated Mass was offered in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar. The chief celebrant was Fr Norman Alfred, assisted by Fr Phil Gaffney, who had given Danny the Last Rites. Jason thanked the two priests for the “most elegant funeral Mass ever; they were wonderful and they made my dad’s funeral journey easier for us”.
Danny McKevitt was given military honours at his funeral. The Irish flag was draped on his coffin and his sons Jason, Lar and Derek wore their Army medals as they carried it. Outside the cathedral, a guard of honour was provided by soldiers of 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment, the Irish UN Veterans Association, the ONE, as well as members the 4th Field Artillery Regiment Association.
“For us to come out as a family and see the Army and the veterans providing a guard of honour was a very proud and poignant moment,” Jason said.
At the graveside in Ballyglass Cemetery, The Last Post and Reveille was played, “which brought tears to our eyes, it was very moving”.
“We miss him. He was an interesting man and a wonderful father and friend,” Jason concluded.
Danny is survived by his wife Margaret, children Jason, Donal, Derek, Jessica, Teresa, Larry and Mark, grandchildren Killian, Jack, Taylor and Áine, great granddaughter Hayley, Jason’s wife Rachel, Derek’s partner Elaine and Larry’s partner Eóin, and by a wide circle of friends and his former comrades in the Irish Defence Forces.
The Passing
Where upon a shock that left behind stardust, shimmering in photographic memories.
It kept us lost inside ourselves and made the moving images blurry.
It settled in rain drops on window sills.
The mind may still dance slowly in the Autumn on motorways where faux ballrooms hang on.
And we resemble diary entries from unread journals Names drowned out by the speed.
A new-born illusion of a heart beating after death as the solemn stillness seems more real than the corpse.
And now the knight is so insignificant inside his iron armour of metal coating.
By Tess McKevitt