Patrick John McKeown was born 8 August 1937 in Ardwick, Manchester, but spent some time in Ireland during the War. After initially trying his vocation with one of the Missionary Orders, he changed to Salford and studied at Upholland being ordained 4 June 1966. He began his ministry as curate to Pere Carey at St Joseph's, Ordsall, where he worked alongside Fr Eugene Dolan, in 1969 he moved to Ss Peter & Paul, Pendleton whilst appointed secretary to Warldley Hall, however as Fr O'Keeffe noted in the parish log, he had no parochial duties. Then in 1971 to St Edward's, Rusholme with Fr O'Sullivan. From 1982 to 1985 Fr McKeown was curate to Fr Reynolds at Our Lady's, Langley.

In 1985 he was sent to Collyhurst, first living at St Malachy's, then the following year moving to St Patrick's and overseeing the merger of the two parishes, on completion of this task he left in 1990 taking up the charge of St Mary's, Failsworth where he would serve for more than quarter of a century, he retired in 2016 to the new retirement apartments at Salford Cathedral where he was a popular member of the community there.

He died peacefully in his sleep 2 September 2020 at the age of 83