ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Commandant Noel Keyes, late of Ranelagh, Dublin 6 and Lucan, County Dublin. On June 28th, 2025, peacefully, following a long illness, and in the loving care of the staff at Mount Pleasant Lodge Nursing Home, Kilcock.
Predeceased by his brother Seán. Very sadly missed by his children Anne Marie, Evelyn, Martin, Noel, Mark and Austin, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his brother Liam (Boston), sisters Anne Rae and Evelyn Kirwan, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and extended family, his former wife Phyllis, dear friend Olive, and Defence Forces comrades and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
Thomas Noel Keyes was born on 30th December 1938 in Ranelagh, Dublin. His father Noel was a civilian telephonist in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, Dublin. Noel enlisted in the Defence Forces on 13th January 1954 and was assigned to the Corps of Signals. He served in 2 Field Signals Company in Dublin and subsequently in Army Headquarter Signals Company on its establishment, becoming its first Company Sergeant. Overseas Noel served with ONUC in the Republic of the Congo as a Sergeant in the Signal Platoon, Headquarters Company, 34 Infantry Battalion from January to June 1961. He served with UNFICYP in Cyprus with the Signal Platoon, Headquarters Company, 40 Infantry Battalion from April to October 1964.
Noel was commissioned into the Supply and Transport Corps as a member of 2 Potential Officers Course on 7th December 1970. Among the units he served with were 4 Garrison Supply and Transport Company in Athlone, and 11 Field Supply and Transport Company FCA in Dublin. For his final posting Noel was transferred to the Military Police Corps and served as Second-in-Command with the Military Police Government Buildings Company.
Noel retired from the Defence Forces in the mid-1980s to take up an appointment with the National Manpower Service and subsequently with the Civil Service.
Reposing at Cunningham’s Funeral Home, Lucan on Tuesday evening (1st July) from 6pm to 8pm. Removal to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook on Wednesday (2nd July) arriving for Requiem Mass at 12noon followed by burial in Esker Cemetery, Lucan.
Noel’s Funeral Mass may be viewed online (live only) at: https://donnybrookparish.ie/webcam/
Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (https://alzheimer.ie/).
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Noel’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/comdt-thomas-noel-noel-keyes-dublin-lucan-598285
