Water protector, mentor and friend to farmers, fishers and the environment is the legacy Alan Keys MBE has left behind following his unexpected passing.
The former farmer’s passion for Lough Neagh, our rivers, biodiversity and the environment saw him found what would become the Ballinderry Rivers Trust.
Even in retirement, the Moneymore man spent his days working to help tackle water pollution, with King Charles getting a glimpse of his push for solutions when he visited in March.
Alan died aged 78 at Antrim Area Hospital on June 29, surrounded by his loving family.
He leaves behind his wife Libby, children Clare, Helen, David and their spouses, grandchildren Joseph and Tilly, and brothers Henry, Wesley and Bryan.
Mark Horton, chief executive of the Ballinderry Rivers Trust, said: “This river and Lough Neagh were in his heart, it’s who he was. And right ‘til the very end, he was still talking about what needs to be done.
“I hope we at Ballinderry Rivers Trust can do his legacy proud by continuing the work he started all those years ago and realising his vision, that our rivers will one day be healthy and full of wildlife and that Lough Neagh will be healthy again.”
Chair of the Ulster Angling Federation, Gary Houston, praised Alan’s work with anglers to recognise pollution, improve and stock rivers and encourage new Rivers Trusts.
He said: “Ulster Angling Federation is sad to hear of the recent passing of our good friend Alan Keys.
“Such a knowledgeable, capable and friendly gentleman who will be greatly missed in angling circles.”
Sharing her “deepest condolences” to Alan’s family and friends on behalf of Save Our Shores and the Save Lough Neagh Group, Mary O’Hagan said: “We have lost an ardent conservationist and a strong ally in the fight against pollution and we are the poorer for it.
“He was a wonderful man, who dedicated his life to finding a better way to farm. Always with nature and the protection of our waterways foremost in his mind.”
The son of Methodist Minister Jack Keys and wife Lila (Elizabeth), Alan was born in Fivemiletown but the family later lived in Portadown, Ballinamallard and Belfast.
In his own words, Alan’s first passion was farming but it was while he was farming poultry in Cookstown that his interest in our river systems, biodiversity and water quality piqued and his attention turned to pollution prevention.
He helped form the Ballinderry River Enhancement Association in 1984 and even after his retirement from consultancy on lakes across Northern Ireland and Donegal, he was still working with farmers, sewage treatment works, companies and DAERA to improve the water quality in our rivers.
Alan and Bronagh Dempster checking for signs of river pollution
In recent years, Alan’s attention turned to novel and affordable approaches to preventing nutrient run-off at the heart of blue-green algae blooms like planting Russian comfrey on farmland near streams, and surveying rivers in Lough Neagh’s catchment for pollution issues.
Farm trials by the Water Innovation Network with Dr Lindsay Easson and Professor Jim McAdam through the Ballinderry Rivers Trust and his work checking rivers for signs of pollution saw success, with a reduction in dirty water running from farms and NIEA forming a new team to proactively check for pollution.
Alan’s funeral service was held at Magherafelt Methodist Church on Thursday followed by a private burial.
Shauna Corr
Alan with Kate Clifford, director of the Rural Community Network ** The Irish News publishes a selection of readers’ obituaries each Saturday. Families or friends are invited to send in accounts of anyone they feel has made a contribution to their community or simply led an interesting or notable life. Call Aeneas Bonner on 028 9040 8360 or email a.bonner@irishnews.com.