O'Keeffe, Fr John
July 12, 2013
Fr John O'Keeffe: a lifetime of service to the community
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" (Matatma Gandhi).
"To service ... you only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." (Martin Luther King Jr)
If ever a man personified the essence of service to others, as outlined so eloquently in these quotations from two famous world leaders, it was the late Fr John O'Keeffe.
Fr Jack, as he was affectionately known the length and breadth of the county, constantly thought about, and worked to care for, others every moment of his life.
When news spread of his death last month, many people in different parishes and in various walaks of life were saddened. However, for those especially who had come into contact witih the livewire Crusheen-born priest, they also felt very privileged and enriched to have experienced his wonderful generosity of spirit and deed.
From Coolmeen and Cranny, where he spent his last years of ministry, to Miltown Malbay and Mullagh parishes where he had earlier spent 24 years of his life, the memories came flooding back.
Members and leaders of youth clubs, in particular, as well as those involved in numerous other community, sporting, parochial and social organisations around the county also spoke fondly about the huge impact that Fr Jack had made on their lives.
A native of Carrahill, Crusheen, the young John developed a close affinity with the countryside and with outdoor life and he grew up and worked on the family farm while going to school and college.
An accomplished swimmer, he learned to ride his first bicycle a few days before he began secondary school, so he could cycle into St Flannan's College from home. Thus began a life-long attachment to the joys of cycling, with Fr Jack and his trusted bike later becoming a popular sight in every parish he served.
After completing his studies at Flannan's, John O'Keeffe studied for the priesthood at Maynooth and was ordained in 1958.
Unique ability
His first posting was to Brentwood near London, a very different community to the rural Ireland of the 1940s and 1950s, where he had grown up. He immersed himself fully into the Irish community there - an involvement that brought him great joy and satisfaction. It was to be an early manifestation of his unique ability to relate to the wider community.
Returning to Ireland in early 1965, he spent brief periods in Feakle and Castleconnell, before becoming curate in Mullagh in May. In July 1971, he moved to the neighbouring Miltown Malbay parish, where he spent the next 18 years. In 1989, he became PP in Coolmeen-Cranny, where he later served as priest-in-residence.
Fr O'Keeffe's wide-ranging impact on the people of Coolmeen and Cranny was ably chronicled in a previous appreciation in The Clare Champion by Coolmeen Ladies Football Club.
As people from Miltown Malbay and Mullagh parishes, his fellow youth workers and priests fondly reminisce about his life and times, a few exceptional traits of his are highlighted again and again.
Young People
Foremost of his traits was his wonderful affinity with young people of all ages. He had an amazing sense of openness with them; he trusted in them and empowered them to reach their potential. He encouraged them in every way. "Very good" was his constant refrain as he made every effort to ensure they felt good about themselves.
In return, young people grew in confidence as rounded individuals and reciprocated that trust. They remain, to this day, forever grateful for the indelible mark he made on their lives. One simple manifestation of his is that up to 50 couples, who had come into his sphere of influence early in life, fondly recalled for the O'Keeffe family at his funeral how they had later got him to officiate at their wedding.
Very importantly, parents trusted him too as they felt their offspring were safe under his leadership. For example, they allowed them to attend, at a relatively early age, the celebrated discos that he personally operated as DJ, with his own sound and lighting system in different West Clare halls. They also fully supported him as he broadened young people's horizons by taking groups of teenagers and mass servers on outings in Ireland and as far afield as Continental Europe and Russia.
Enlightened approach
This was a most enlightened and progressive approach at that time, which yielded many dividends. In Mullagh, for instance, he was heavily involved in underage GAA football and Scor events, including promoting set dancing. The Mullagh Set subsequently went on to win All-Ireland titles. He formed very successful camogie and youth clubs. The latter organised many productive activities that left a life-long impression on participants, ranging from a full-colour parish newsletter to table tennis, quizzes, talent competitions and close links with neighbouring groups.
Similarly, in Milltown, his involvement with youth work made a huge impact. Under his leadership, the youth club organised wide-ranging pursuits, from quizzes, club outings and table tennis to basketball, card games and badminton. He was also deeply involved with underage GAA matters and again promoted Scor.
He was the driving force behind the production by young people from six or seven local parishes of the popular Glow magazine each year. His trojan efforts were acknowledged at county level too when he served as member and PRO on the Clare Regional Youth Council Executive Committee. Wherever young people gathered, Fr Jack and his Morris Minor or bicycle were near at hand.
Community efforts
Fr O'Keeffe's efforts were not confined, of course, to youth work. He was a tireless and most efficient organiser and practical activist in the wider community. Here he displayed his considerable talents in working with, and motivating, other likeminded progressive people to carry out significant projects that benefited the local area.
In Miltown Malbay, for instance, he played a leading role as joint treasurer of the Milltown GAA Development Group, which oversaw the provision of new dressing rooms at the local pitch in the 1970s.
He was also very much to the fore in efforts to renovate the community centre in Miltown in the 1980s. With local public representatives, he secured funding from the local authority and other sources for this work and for Miltown GAA and Moy Community Centre projects.
Also, through his efforts, Miltown Community Centre played host to many of Ireland's leading bands on Friday nights, including Big Tom and the Mainliners. Fr O'Keeffe was also prominent in the Pioneer Association, as he had been in Mullagh.
Pastoral work
Fr Jack also got through tremendous work as a pastoral leader in the different parishes where he served. He developed a close rapport with all ages - from young schoolchildren in primary schools right up to senior citizens. He had a kind and encouraging word for all and handed out prizes and sweets, for instance, to young children for study of the bible parables.
Although often prefaced by a light-hearted remark like 'I won't delay ye too long from your bacon and cabbage' his eagerly awaited sermons were concise and thought-provoking - simply constructed but memorable, like the main himself.
Later still in his ministry, even as his health began to fail, he stil gave completely of himself. When at all possible, he made it his business to attend meetings of clergy in his parish cluster grouping.
Fr Jack O'Keeffe was a quiet-spoken and most humble man, who shied away from the limelight. However, his wonderful deeds on behalf of others and his truly unselfish attitude ensure that his name and legacy will be cherished and revered around the county for many years to come. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Clare Champion, 12th july 2013
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