The Late Dr John Keating The news of the sudden death of Dr John Keating, Breechbrook House, Portlaoise Road, Abbeyleix on September 10, 2003, was a severe blow to many people. Not only had he patients in Abbeyleix, but also in Portlaoise, Rathdowney, Borris-in-Ossary and Erril. A native of Kilcoran in Tipperary, he was educated in Ballylooby National School and the Abbey Secondary School, Cahir before being called to St Patrick's, Drumcondra, Dublin where he graduated as a teacher. He then returned to Tipperary where he taught for eight years, mainly in Cahir National School. He met and married Kilcorna girl Ann Marie Kelly and emigrated to Toronto, Canada where he taught for three years. On his return to Ireland, he studied medicine in U.C.D. and after graduation he held a practice in Portlaoise for two years. He then moved to Borris-in-Ossary for a further two years, finally taking over Dr McDonagh's practice in Abbeyleix Health Centre where he has been friend, confidant and healer for twenty years. John had many interests, one of his favourites being hurling and he served as team doctor to the Tipperary side from 1987 to 1994, mainly with Babs Keating as team trainer. John and Babs were not related, although from the same area, and they had a mutual first cousin. John also had a spell as team doctor with the Laois U21 hurling side. He was a good hurler himself, playing as Ann Marie says, for anyone who would have him. John was a G.P. Tutor at Trinity College and specialised in sports related injuries. He was a keen golfer and was a member of Abbeyleix Golf Club for twenty years. He loved gardening, woodwork and farming, owning a farm in South Tipperary. To Ann Marie, he was a great family man, the best husband in the world and dearly loved his children. The funeral took place from Beechrook House to the Church of the Most Holy Rosary Abbeyleix, the Guard of Honour from Abbeyleix Golf Club led by President Jimmy Maher on the right hand side of the cortege and Lady President Mrs Duggan on the left. The burial took place in Kilcoran, Co. Tipperary. In his homily, celebrant Very Rev Patrick Kehoe P.P. described John Keating as a man of and for the people, milking his patients in going on house calls where often the problem would be minor, but to John Keating this made no difference. Indeed many of his call outs were to people who only sickness was loneliness. Not only has Abbeyleix lost a doctor, but also a friend, comforter and a special human being. John Keatings is survived by his wife Ann Marie, his son Martin who is a teacher in Portlaoise and son Dominic, a doctor in Dublin, daughter Sinead who is a qualified electronic engineer and is now in her second year studying medicine, daughter-in-law Nuala and grand daughter Ashling, brothers Jimmy and Bob, sisters Anna and Francis, cousins, nephews and nieces. May he rest in peace. Courtesy of the Leinster Express September 21st 2003 Tweet

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