Brendan was born in 1939, the second youngest child in a family of six children to Jack and Jean McKey.  He attended Bann Primary School, Laurencetown before entering the workforce as a labourer. Amongst others, Brendan worked for Calvert Brothers and then Banbridge Council where he remained until his retirement. He took great pride in his work and was understandably delighted when Banbridge Council won the Best Kept Town Award. The council presented him with a gold watch on his retirement.

Brendan lived in the family home in Hallsmill until they had to relocate because of bomb damage to the home in 1977 and they were relocated to Castleview in Gilford.

He was a quiet unassuming man but also a man of hidden qualities. He was an avid reader and took a great interest in physics astronomy and photography. He enjoyed looking at and studying the stars through the telescope and with his own darkroom, Brendan was developing his own photographs years ago. Fascinated by numbers, he had an extraordinary mathematical mind and even figured out the working of the programme ‘Deal or no Deal’ and was able to ‘foretell’ which box held the top prize. Magic was another hobby and he could entertain his nieces and nephews with numerous card tricks.   Golf was another of his passions and he enjoyed a round of golf every Saturday morning in Lurgan.

Brendan loved gardening, which was why he took such pride in his work with Banbridge Council. In his latter years, he loved to go walking and thought nothing of regularly walking from Gilford to Laurencetown to visit the family grave and organise anniversary Masses.

After his sister Maureen died, Brendan moved to Banbridge three years ago and then, due to failing health, moved to Orchard Care Home in Armagh.

He was a much loved brother and uncle and will be sadly missed by his nieces and nephews.  As mentioned earlier, Brendan was fascinated by numbers and maybe it was no coincidence that he was born in 1939 and he lived in No 39 Castleview for 39 years!

We offer our sympathy to his brothers Sammy and Dennis, sister-in-law May and nieces and nephews.