Friday September 5th 2003

An ex-hurler from a famous Wexford G.A.A. family got the shock of his life this week when a treasured medal stolen from his house 17 years ago turned up in an antique shop in Australia.

When Jim Kehoe’s wife, Kathleen, told him that she had a ’startling story’ to tell him on Monday night, the haulage contractor from Palace, Enniscorthy, could never have guessed what was about to unfold.

Back in 1986, while Jim, Kathleen and family were on holidays in Rosslare, their house was burgled and a number of items, including three of Jim’s prized hurling medals, were taken in the raid.

Aside from a Leinster and All-Ireland Intermediate hurling medals won in 1961, Jim also lost his only senior county hurling medal, a solid gold decoration won with the Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s club in 1966.

Jim – a member of the famous Kehoe clan from Clonleigh – kept his prize for 20 years until that unfortunate night in 1986.

But amazingly, the medal has resurfaced again over a decade and a half from the night it went missing – and its all thanks to a keen-eyed and thoughtful expatriate.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Down native, Aidan Rice was casually strolling through an old antique shop in the exclusive Sanctuary Cove on Australia’s Gold Coast – about 50km from the city of Brisbane – when he happened to notice an unusual looking medal in a glass case just as he was about to leave the shop.

Spotted it

‘We had been in there for about half an hour I suppose when I spotted it,’ Rice revealed on Tuesday morning. ‘I knew it was a bit different, so I asked to have a look at it and that was when I saw the name.’

Inscribed on the back of the medal was ‘Wexford S.H.C. 1966′ and the name ‘J. Kehoe’. Rice immediately realised that it belonged to someone and decided there and then to try and return it to its proper owner.

‘I didn’t ask any questions and I honestly can’t remember what I paid for it, but it is insignificant anyway,’ he said.

Rice – who has been living in Australia for the past 15 years – immediately e-mailed the G.A.A. Museum in Croke Park, but they were unable to help him.

However, he was eventually given a number for Wexford County Board G.A.A. Secretary, Mick Kinsella, who tracked down the Kehoe family. The two men were eventually put in touch on Tuesday morning.

‘It was a big surprise alright,’ said Jim Kehoe. ‘When my wife told me she had a startling story to tell me and mentioned Mick Kinsella’s name, I thought I might have won tickets to the All-Ireland final, but never this!

‘But to think that it could go missing for 17 years and then turn up over 12,000 miles away in Australia is something else.’

Meanwhile, the two men have arranged to meet up in Dublin this weekend where the medal will be returned to its rightful owner once again.

© New Ross Standard

Saturday September 6th 2003

A HURLING medal stolen from a house in Co Wexford 17 years ago has resurfaced in an antiques shop several thousand miles away.

The senior county hurling medal was won in 1966, by Jim Kehoe of Palace, Enniscorthy. The medal disappeared from his home in 1986 while he holidayed with his family in Rosslare.

But thanks to Aidan Rice, originally from Co Down, but who now lives along Australia’s Gold Coast, the medal is now winging its way back to its rightful owner. Mr Rice was walking through an antique shop in the exclusive Sanctuary Cove, which is around 50km from Brisbane, when an unusual looking medal in a glass case caught his eye.

He asked the shop assistant for a look at it, read the inscription, Wexford SHC 1966, J Kehoe on the back of the medal. Mr Rice bought it immediately and e-mailed the GAA Museum in Croke Park but they were unable to help him.

However, he was then given a number for the Wexford GAA County Board and secretary Mick Kinsella, who then tracked down Mr Kehoe. “It was a big surprise alight,” said Mr Kehoe.

“When my wife Kathleen told me she had a startling story to tell me, I thought I might have won tickets to the All-Ireland final, but never this.” The men have arranged to meet in Dublin this weekend where the medal will be returned to its rightful owner.

© Independent.ie