Mr Jim Mageean

MR Jim Mageean died on Sunday, November 6, in Downe Hospital, after a lengthy illness. He was 88.

Born into a farming family in Castlescreen, near Downpatrick, Jim was educated in Legamaddy Primary School.

As a 15 year-old he went to Stewarts Motor Works in Downpatrick on a week’s trial. He was to stay with the firm for 19 years and built up a great reputation as an excellent and sought after mechanic.

He married his wife Mary (née Bell) on August 23, 1950, and they had seven children — Geraldine, Damian, Angela, Paul (deceased), Kieran and twins Jim and John.

He had a great love of music and as well as singing in concerts as a child in Ballynoe Hall, he was also Drum Major of Magheralaggan Pipe Band in the 1950s and 1960s.

He also had a love for photography and in the Sixties was a regular attendee at Croke Park with his Super 8 film camera in hand. The BBC actually used his colour film of the Down All-Ireland final in 1968 in its series entitled ‘Super 8 Stories’.

In 1962 he was approached by Crossgar businessman Mr Kevin Bell to manage and develop the new business of Bells Motor Works. He was to remain there for 35 years.

In 1974 he was instrumental in bringing the Renault car dealership to Crossgar and helped Bells to win many awards as one of the top dealerships in the UK. The continued success of Bells Motor Works is testament to the professionalism and standards he set down in those early days.

He was a founder member and past president of Owenbeg Bowling Club and was also an accomplished ballroom dancer, treading the boards every fortnight in Downpatrick Cricket Club. 

After his wife, Mary, died in 1984, Jim would spend his nights playing the piano to his favourite John McCormack and Jim Reeves songs. He married his  second wife Jean (Lundy) in 1986 and it was at this time he developed a passion for gardening.

After he retired Jim would spend a full day in the garden or in his potting shed where he took pride in growing plants from seed and preparing them for bedding. During his illness Jim loved sitting in his garden and only this summer he still had the uncanny knack of spotting a weed from 20 yards.

Jim always loved touring Ireland, and in his later years would spend a lot of time along the west coasts of Donegal, Sligo and Mayo, as well as regular visits to Mooncoin in Co Kilkenny.

Despite his illness Jim always enjoyed the times he shared reminiscing over childhood years with his surviving siblings, Kathleen, Danny, Therese, Sally and Frankie.

With the help of his strong faith Jim bore his illness with dignity and liked nothing better than to share his life with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.