Jim McKinless lived all of his life (boy and man) at the ‘head of the road’ in Ballinderry.
His father, Tom, was an industrious farmer and Jim carried on the family tradition, working to all hours to provide for his family.
Jim was well known within the farming community, often travelling to Omagh market with a load of good meadow hay. He would also think nothing of heading to Greencastle or Gortin late into the evening with a lorry of bales.
He was often accompanied by ‘Matey’ – James O’Neill – or Joe Coyle. Jim was of the persuasive nature and rarely arrived home without having sold his hay.
While farming was in his blood, he had other pastimes and interests. In his youth he was a gifted footballer for Ballinderry Shamrocks. He also won a medal at junior level playing for Derry.
A talented piper, he was a member of St Patrick’s Pipe Band, Ballinderry. He told me that among his proudest moments was when the Shamrocks won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football final in 2002 and the pipe band won the world championship title in their grade.
More recently Jim had the occasion to be very proud of his grandson Gareth McKinless, who was awarded a GAA All Star for his prowess on the football field.
One of Jim’s other interests was of a more sedentary nature, when he joined the other card “sharps” in the ‘Evergreen’. This was a regular event on a Wednesday night.
Jim could tell the yarns and keep the jokes going. His home was a great ‘céiíing’ house, as it had been over the years. His mother was a great baker and no-one left McKinless’s without a slice of soda farl and a mug of tea.
He told me that among his proudest moments was when the Shamrocks won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football final in 2002 and the pipe band won the world championship title in their grade
While Jim’s health deteriorated over these past few years, he was still able to welcome neighbours and visitors to his home, but missed many of his old pals who had predeceased him.
Jim passed away on December 17, just 12 days short of his 92nd birthday.
The last surviving member of Tom and Elizabeth McKinless’s family, he was predeceased by his beloved wife Anna Liza, sister Rose Muldoon and brothers Vinny, Gusty, Gerry and twin Bobby.
He is survived and sadly missed by his children Anne Marie, Paula, Dolores, Martin, Brian and Joe.
Now he is happy in the company of the angels. The ‘Crossroads’ will never be quite the same again.
May he rest in peace.
Mary O’Neill