[2][3] McKenna was born at Cottage Hill, Stamullen in 1939; his family later moved to Julianstown.
[4] McKenna was a founding member of St. Patrick's East Meath cycling club in 1955.
McKenna also won the Rás Laighean in 1958,[6] the Mick Beggan Memorial in 1959 and the Tour of Ulster in 1960.
McKenna married Grace Bosonnet and had six children; he died in 1992 aged just 52.
The Ben McKenna Memorial is an annual cycling race held in Balbriggan.