Respected lighthouse keeper Henry passes away

Respected lighthouse keeper Henry passes away

4 October 2017

THE funeral has taken place of former St John’s Point lighthouse keeper Mr Henry Henvey.

Mr Henvey, who was well known and hugely popular in the area, passed away last Saturday, with his funeral service taking place yesterday morning at St Joseph’s Church in his home village.

Survived by his wife Mary, sister Bridie and a wide family circle, Mr Henvey had a long association with the lighthouse and was one of the most instantly recognisable figures in Killough and the wider area.

Mrs Eileen Peters, from the Lecale Lightkeepers, a campaign group set up to campaign for the retention of the iconic lamp at Killough lighthouse which could be replaced by a new LED light, said its members were “shocked and saddened” to learn of Henry’s passing.

One of the most famous visitors to the lighthouse was Brendan Behan, one of Ireland’s most irreverent writers who caused havoc when he was employed to paint the towering structure over 60 years ago.

Mr Henvey, who was a teenager at the time of Behan’s arrival, befriended the budding playwright and recalled pleasant memories of swimming together in the open sea and enjoying long conversations with him in the family kitchen.