The details of Pte James Keogh's family

The organisers of a commemoration ceremony for the four Irish soldiers killed in the Cullenstown Strand mine explosion in 1941 now have all the details of Pte James Keogh's relatives in Kilcullen.

Pte Keogh was buried with a military firing party on 29 January 1941, in New Abbey Cemetery.

Last evening, John and Annamay Brady provided the Diary with the burial record of Pte Keogh, and the location of the grave with the memorial stone erected by his parents, James and Ellen. They lived on the Castlemartin Estate, then owned by the Blacker family.

Thanks to Maureen Barker, his niece, we now have details of the relatives of Pte Keogh, who was known within the family as 'Sonny', possibly to differentiate him from his father.

Sonny had three brothers, Pat, Tommy and Michael, the latter two who died in England. He also had two sisters, Brigid Bolger and Molly Barker, both of whom lived in Kilcullen until they passed away.

Pat's sons Jim and Paddy live in Kilcullen and Newbridge respectively, and his daughter Sheila lives in Rathangan. Tommy's sons Jimmy and Garry live in England. Michael's sons Jimmy and Michael, and one daughter, Anne, live in England and another daughter, Elisabeth, is in Canada.

Bridget's daughters Mary and Eileen live in Ballysax, Angela is in Carlow and Patricia is in Wexford. The late Bea lived in Athy.

Molly's children Kathleen, Jim, Helen, Anne and Maureen all live in Kilcullen, and Paddy is in Tipperary.

Maureen told the Diary last night that they all knew about 'Uncle Jimmy' growing up, but that not a lot was said about the tragedy. "In those days, families didn't talk so much about the past," she said.

Maurice Curran, who contacted the Diary last week on behalf of Bill Tinsley, Atlanta, USA, one of the organisers of the commemoration planned for June, said this morning that, with all the families of the four dead soldiers on board, there will now be 'one hell of a memorial gathering'.