Kerry has said a fond farewell to a man whose remarkable life spanned well over a century and who was regarded for decades as an important figure in Ireland's history. Castlemaine native Dan Keating passed away, after a short illness, on Tuesday, October 2, at the astonishing age of 105, at the St Louis Nursing Home in Tralee. He had witnessed major changes take place in Irish and world history during his exceptionally long life, noted his friend and local parish priest Fr Luke Roche during the Requiem Mass a the St Carthage's Church, Kiltallagh, last Friday Afternoon. The country church was packed to capacity, with many of the 600 mourners spilling out into the churchyard as they gathered to pay tribute to the much loved Castlemaine man. "It's hard to believe the 20th century had barely been born when Dan was baptised in this parish. He lived through that century an d into the 21st century," said Fr Roche. During the poignant ceremony Mr Keating's friends and family presented gifts symbolising a life that had remained extraordinarily active and full to the very last. His friend, Cora O' Sullivan, gave a commentary as a photograph of Mr Keating's wife - who died 30 years ago - was presented, followed by his trademark cap and tie. "Dan was always impeccable dressed and never seen without his cap, collar and tie," said Mr O'Sullivan. "He was a true representative of his generation." Mr Keating was a familiar sight to many as he took to the Castlemaine-Tralee road for his daily four-mile walks, so the pair of shoes that numbered among the gifts was a fitting tribute. Another apt symbol of his interests was his leather suitcase, as Mr Keating loved to travel throughout his life. The books The Wind That Shakes the Barley and My Fight for Irish Freedom were also brought to the altar. Mr Keating attended the premiere of the movie version of The Wind That Shakes the Barley, in Cork, at the age of 104. A football representing his love of sport while Rosary beads symbolised his strong faith and a watch was presented to demonstrate his love of punctuality. "Dan Bally was a stickler for time,"added his friend Ms O'Sullivan. Fr Roche extended sympathy to Mr Keating's family, including his nephew Jack Keating and his wife Eileen who looked after Mr keating in the latter years of his life. The Castlemaine man was a regular at weekday Mass at St John's church in Tralee as well as in his home parish. Monsignor Dan O'Riordan of St John's parish concelebrated the Requiem mass. Noting Mr Keating's strong faith, Fr Roche said: "Coming to Mass and receiving the body and blood of the Eucharist was very much part of Dan's life. He would go to Tralee on the bus for his daily Mass in Tralee. He is a lesson to all of us. "One would always be on the lookout for Dan on the road to Tralee and we will miss him on the road. He would be out for his daily exercise for his daily exercise was important , caring for the body and caring for the soul," said the Castlemaine PP. Adding that most people found it hard to believe how old Mr keating was, Fr Roche said: "We were always amazed that he looked so much younger then he was." The parish priest noted that the Castlemaine man was blessed with "great clarity of mind" as well as a long life, which he lived to the full. "It was wonderful that he never regarded himself as being an old man. He would talk of other people much younger than him as elderly but never himself," said Fr Roche. "We would have ideally loved to have had him with us for longer.We are privileged to have had a man of his wisdom living among us." Tributes Flow at Graveside as Dan is Lauded by Pals Friends and family of all ages said a last goodbye to Dan Keating at the removal from Flynn's funeral home in Castlemaine last Thursday and Requiem Mass at At Carthage's Church, Kiltallagh, on Friday. Members of Republican Sinn Fein from across Ireland and beyond arrived for the funeral, with Easter lily badges worn with pride on many lapels. Republican Sinn fein members lined out for the guard of honour as the coffin was brought form the church. A piper accompanied the mourners as the uniformed RSF members bore the coffin, draped in a tricolour, to the graveyard. Numerous wreaths were laid at the grave of Dan Keating, including one laid by Maurice Dowling, a friend and comrade of Mr Keating's, on behalf of the Republican movement. Matt Leen, another friend and comrade, laid a wreath on behalf of Republican prisoners. Mr keating himself was incarcerated in th e1920s, 30s and 40s. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the National Graves association of Ireland, and Republican Sin Fein, Cork. Mr keating had personally chosen the man who delivered the panegyric at Kiltallagh, the president of Republican Sinn Fein, Ruairi O Bradaigh. "We stand by Dan Keating's grave in all humility for this was an Irish man and a Kerry man who gave more than 90 years' service to the all-Ireland Republic of 1916 and the first 32 county Dail Eireann. But let me emphasise this at the outset - we are fiercely proud of his long life of service to his country and his people. That above all is our deepest feeling," said the RSF leader. Anyone who had ever had any contact with Mr Keating "felt completely at home" with him said Mr O Bradaigh, who praised the Castlemaine man's straightforwardness and directness. Adding that Mr Keating was "an inspiration to generations of Republicans", Mr O Bradaigh said: "For more than four score and 10 years since he first took the oath of allegiance to that Republic, Dan fought nobly in defence of it stood by it and adhered faithfully to it until his death.." Mr Keating joined Fianna Eireann at the end of 1916 and his combat duty included the ambush of British forces in his native Castlemaine in 1921. He later saw service in the Castleisland and against the Free State Forces in Limerick and Tipperary. He endured the short terms of imprisonment in the 1930s and in 1933 was sentenced to three months in prison for contempt of court in Tralee. Mr Keating went to England in 1939 and 1940 where he engaged in a Republican sabotage campaign, added Mr O Bradaigh. "He was accustomed to the ways of the English and knowing London very well he blended in and he was never arrested," he added. Back in Ireland Mr Keating was arrested and interned without trial in the Curragh from 1940-1944. "On his release the reorganisation of the Republican movement was long and difficult." said Mr O'Bradaigh. When he retired from work and settled in his native Kerry in 1978, Mr Keating threw himself into local Republican activities and in 2004 he was elected by the Ard Fheis of Republican Sinn feinn to be its patron. "He placed his name and his service at the head of that organisation,"said the RSF president. "He regarded the peace process as a a surrender process and would not accept any British presence in Ireland," added Mr O Bradaigh. The Castlemaine man was a comrade of the Republican prisoners who were killed at Ballyseedy, at Countess Bridge in Killarney, and in Caherciveen in 1923, pointed out the RSF president. "This was a man who was living history," said Mr O'Bradaigh. Peggy Sweeney sang and a piper played The Croppy Boy with mourners uniting to end the service with a rendition of the national anthem Amhran Na bhFiann. Politics and GAA were Dan's Great Passions. Politics and sport were Dan Keating's lifelong twin passions. Indeed, he made sure he cast his vote for this year;s general election, setting out on foot for his local polling station at Castlemaine National School. The 105-year-old, a veteran of the War of Independence, believed he was the second oldest man in the country to vote in 2007 and cast his ballot for Kerry South Labour candidate Breeda Moynihan-Cronin. Mr Keating, who was well known in his home village, claimed he voted 10 times in one election in the 1920's when Kerry was one constituency and Cumann n an Gaedhael,Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein were contesting seats. He was a stalwart Gaa fan and is reported to have attended 154 All Ireland football and hurling finals during his life and missing only three of Kerry's 35 victories. He refused to attend the 2006 All-Ireland final because he did not support the opening of Croke Park to rugby and soccer. The Castlemaine native, whose wife Mary - known as Dolly passed away 30 years ago, also declined the State's E.2,500 award to centenarians because he had heard the Irish President saying her ambition was to walk through Dublin with the Queen of England. Mr Keating, a former barman, marked his 105th birthday with 60 friends and relatives at Gallys Bar and Restaurant in Tralee last January. The Castlemaine man, who worked at the Comet Bar in Dublin for many years returned to Kerry in 1978. Republican Sinn Feinn paid tribute to Mr Keating, calling him "an iconic figure from the history of Irish Republicanism". Des Long, chairman of the Munster RSF Executive, said his passing was the end of a remarkable era stretching back to the War of Independence. "He was an ideal patron of Republican Sinn Fein and acted in that role since the death of Irish American Republican George Harrison in 2002," added Mr Long. Mr Keating was fully involved in the Republican Movement and he was interned many times in the Curragh. One of the most moving of his recollections was the execution of Republican Tony Gibson from Leix; "I was in Portlaoise at the time and was sick in hospital. I was looking out the window when this man was being executed. There were five men in the firing squad. He was only wounded and a man went up and fired two shots into his head," Mr Keating once recalled. Kerry North TD Martin Ferris also expressed his sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Keating. "He was a man who played an active part in the struggle for freedom between 1919 and 1923 and in later years. I had the greatest respect for him and am saddened by news of his death after a long and interesting life as an active Irish republican," said Deputy Ferris. Courtesy of The Kingdom. 9 October, 2007. Tweet

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