Tributes paid after tragic passing of popular publican

The late Patsy McKenna has been remembered as “one of life's true gentlemen” in tributes published following his death after a road traffic collision in Cavan at the weekend.

The 79-year-old proprietor of Nobby's in Corgreagh, Kill, near Cootehill, suffered fatal injuries in a single-vehicle motorcycle collision at Drumsillagh, Tullyvin, at approximately 10:50am on Sunday morning, July 5.

Emergency services and gardaí attended the scene, where Mr McKenna was treated by paramedics before being airlifted from nearby Rathluden Park football pitch to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead later that evening.

The road where the crash occurred remained closed for several hours while Garda Forensic Collision Investigators carried out a technical examination before reopening later on Sunday.

News of Mr McKenna's sudden passing prompted shock and an outpouring of grief across the community. He ran Nobby's pub alongside his brother, Brian, and was also remembered as a skilled craftsman, as well as dedicated supporter of numerous local organisations.

Among those paying tribute was local Fine Gael councillor Carmel Brady.

“There was great sadness in our community,” she said after news of the tragic accident emerged. “Patsy was a wonderful character with a sharp wit and a great community spirit. He supported the local football and camogie clubs as well as the local musical society. Nobby's was a meeting place for old and young alike.”

She added that Mr McKenna was renowned far beyond his local community for his craftsmanship.

“Patsy was known far and wide. He worked on headstones, stone walls and carvings. May he rest in peace.”

Kill Shamrocks, also extended its sympathies to the McKenna family, describing the local pub as “a mainstay of our community for so long” and a valued supporter of the GAA club.

“Patsy was a true character and will be missed within the community,” the club said.

Others who posted tributes online described Mr McKenna as “one of life's true gentlemen - kind, funny and generous”.

Another post praised the care and professionalism he brought to his work, saying that “his craftsmanship in providing headstones and restoring graves was carried out with such care, dignity and respect for the families he served".

Mr McKenna was predeceased by his parents, Tommy and Molly, and his brother, Dominic. He is survived by his brothers, JJ and Brian; sisters, Lucy and Kathleen; sisters-in-law, Bernie and Marie; brother-in-law, Michael; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, neighbours, cousins and a wide circle of friends.

His funeral arrangements had not been announced at the time of going to print.

Garda appeal

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Investigating Gardaí are particularly anxious to speak to anyone who was travelling in the Drumsillagh/Tullyvin area between 10am and 11am on Sunday, July 5, and who may have camera footage, including dash-cam recordings.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bailieborough Garda Station on 042-9694570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111, or any Garda station.

Mr McKenna's death is the third road fatality in Cavan so far in 2026, surpassing the county's total for all of 2025, when two people lost their lives on local roads.

Last year there were seven road deaths across the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division, two in Cavan and five on Monaghan roads. There has been one road death in Monaghan so far this year.

The other fatalities in Cavan this year were David McBride, a father of six from Castlebellingham, who died in a single-vehicle collision near Shercock in February while delivering newspapers, and Tommy Reilly, a 34-year-old father of three from Drumavaddy, who lost his life in an accident at Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, in early May, while travelling to a nearby charity tractor run.

Mr McKenna's death was one of four fatal road collisions across the country last weekend. The other fatal crashes occurred in counties Kildare, Donegal and Cork, bringing the total number of people killed on Irish roads so far this year (Tuesday, July 7) to 94, 14 per cent higher than the same period in 2025 (82), with 13 of those involving motorcyclists.