In memory of Jim Breen

1930 - 2021

Jim was born in 1930 and was the second born of six children. He was raised in Portadown with his three brothers and two sisters by their parents Hugh and May Breen. During his younger years he was a great cyclist, cycling round Ireland on two occasions with Borough Wheelers.

After meeting Teresa, Jim soon won her over with his great dancing skills and good looks. The pair enjoyed a loving marriage of 65 years and raised seven children together. Jim and his beloved family spent their early years living in Keady Row for around 16 years before moving to Castleview estate. They moved back to Keady Row, settling in their home at 20 Hill Street. Jim worked as a Butcher for 25 years in Denny’s and then moved on to the metal box for 20 years, working as a printer setter.

The family’s first holiday was to Newcastle in the summer of ‘68, the year their youngest was born. Jim’s favourite place to visit in Ireland was Donegal and he enjoyed many family holidays there as well as in Bettystown, leaving great memories for everyone to look back on. The more recent trips were spent with his number 1 grandson Jamie Doran and the two loved going for a swim in the pool in the mornings. Jim loved his children and had plenty of time for his grandchildren and was proud as punch when his first great-grandchild Lucie came along. He was always keeping them going telling stories, teaching them to dance and making up his own wee songs.

He was a lifetime Pigeon man alongside his brothers and father. On a Saturday, when the pigeons were coming home from a race, Teresa wasn’t allowed to hang clothes on the line, and everyone was brought indoors and sent to the front of the house, so they didn’t put the pigeons off. Jim stopped racing pigeons in 1969 but started again after he retired in 2002 with his son Dessie, spending more time in the pigeon sheds than in the house. Other pastimes included greyhound racing, owning their own dogs, and he was a member of Dunbarton Bowling Club and St John’s Bowling Club for many years.

Jim was a great cook with his famous French toast, and ham and stuffing which was shared around the families to complete their Christmas dinner. Jim made sure to pass on his famous stuffing recipe in recent years to keep everyone happy, although it probably won’t taste just as good!

Jim’s faith was very strong, bringing the children to mass twice on a Sunday. This got him through his troubles with his heart and more recently an aneurysm. Jim often spoke about how long he prayed for at night, and when another grandchild came along, or if anyone was ill, he would say that’s another one for me to pray for. He will now be reunited with his mum and dad, brothers Michael and Patrick, and his recently deceased son-in-law’s Gabriel and Paul. May they all rest in peace.