Denis O'Keeffe

What is it about Annual General Meetings that ensures a huge level of sullen boredom? It's the end of the year; those who have worked hard and done their best over the last 12 months are slightly worried when trophies have failed to materialise.

The critics may threaten to say a lot but very often don't and tell all and sundry what should have been said afterwards. The weather is depressingly dull and dreary. And of course there are no hurling matches being played to distract attention from this long cherished and essential annual exercise in democracy.

Blackrock National Hurling Club is no different to the thousands of other G.A.A. A.G.M.s. The trinity of excellently prepared Chairman's report, Secretary's Report, Treasurers report have been dealt with, the usual cajoling around the coming year appointments, usually more posts than takers. And very often more talkers than takers!

However Blackrock's main A.G.M. performance has yet to come and there is a growing sense of anticipation, a rising hum of whispers, and a settling back in the chairs around the hall as Denis O'Keeffe rises to his feet and takes the floor with a flourish.

There is complete silence, rapt attention as Denis begins his speech in the manner of all great orators with a wide dramatic verbal broadside ensuring his complete command of the occasion. Half hearted chairperson's interventions are swept aside as the oratory flows; this is Cicero at the Roman Senate, Daniel O'Connell at the monster meetings, James Dillon in Dail Eireann.

Denis O'Keeffe of Blackrock will have his say at the Blackrock A.G.M!

While his targets may vary from year to year, there are no comments on individuals. There is however a fierce honesty, analysis and humour to his annual contribution even as we all mentally re examine our efforts on behalf of Blackrock hurling over the past while hoping our sectional performance or perhaps our rashly expressed views are not the subject of this years speech.

Items as varied as a possible road through Church Road, the state of hurling, Croke Park, the backdoor system, hurling under lights all come under Denis's perceptive spotlight.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with his views, Denis does not mind, however brave is the Rocky who will challenge his comments…………….well openly anyway!!!

Denis O'Keeffe was born in January 1925 at 4 Glandore Avenue in the heart of Blackrock village. His father worked in the Cork Examiner among the printing presses. Among Denis's earliest memories are going down to the "Park" with his father to a match. Unfortunately his father died at a young age leaving his mother attempting to rear 7 young children.

"We were lucky in one way I suppose in that we had two mothers and no father", remembers Denis. A neighbour, Mary Doyle a teacher in the Ursuline Convent became a second mother to the family and helped in their upbringing. His own mother did some part-time work on the Castle Road for a half-a-crown per day.

Denis grew up and like every other boy in the area began hurling with the Rockies. He remembers training in the then Dolphin Rugby ground located near where Peter Barry now lives on the Blackrock road as the Rockies did not have a ground of their own. His brother Liam O'Keeffe played full-back for Blackrock and once held the famous Micka Brennan of Sars and Cork scoreless in the park. With a twinkle in his eye Denis recounts how he won "a sizable wager" on this game.

Of course Denis knew all about wagers having worked as a bookie at the old Greyhound Track on the Western Road for about 15 years, in addition to his day job as a foreman in Irish Distillers where he spent 43 years.

His own hurling career was relatively brief. He played in the Blackrock street leagues and worked his way onto the Junior team. He remembers well the Blackrock pitch on Church Road, the railway wagons and Dave Cummins and others erecting the long timber hut.

Denis also recalls that he once scored four goals in the semi-final of the city Championship against Na Piarsaigh, although the Na Piarsaigh goalie was a personal friend of his. Later he played full-forward in the city final against Paddy Hogan of Glen Rovers.

He was delighted to get the all important flick of a sliotar to Mossie McCarthy who got the winning goal in 1947. A verbal altercation immediately after this junior final resulted in Denis packing up the hurling.

When asked to comment on the new Blackrock complex, he is apprehensive about the hurling hall and thinks it will take ages to pay off the debt. He is very impressed with the size of it and if used well he believes it will certainly help to develop hurling skills among the young Rockies.

Denis holding the County Championship Trophy at Church Road

He refers to the fact that the modern Blackrock hurling started up in Ballinlough after Derry Cremin got injured playing soccer. Derry then concentrated on developing the hurling skills of an extraordinary bunch of local lads living along the Ballinlough Road.

Very often they played hurling up and down the Ballinlough Road until a late hour each evening. Their headquarters was "Jocks House" across the road from the present day Shrewsbury estate. (This was Jock Murphys house, son of the legendary John Curtis Murphy who captained the very first Cork (Blackrock) team to All Ireland glory in 1893) Denis speaks very highly of the three Cummins brothers, Paddy Moylan and the other Ballinlough stars of the time.

Denis has "great time for Frank Cummins, Frank was a tough man"

Denis is a great admirer of Frank Murphy, County Board Secretary, "he lived for the club; whatever about his hurling he had no second as an administrator"

He has great admiration too for former players such as Johnny Quirke and the Riordan brothers, Mossie and Gerry who came from the Blackrock Road near Crab Lane. He also remembers with great fondness his friends and great clubmen …. the late Tom Clancy, Jack O'Shea and Ned Kidney.

Of the current players, Wayne Sherlock "is a man in a million" while the Brownes are "great clubmen". He is very proud of his nephew Timmy Murphy also and believes he did a great job when Blackrock won the 2001 and 2002 County titles.

Denis with his nephew Timmy Murphy 

Denis courted a young lady Mary O'Shea from Boreennamana Road and after many leisurely strolls along the Marina Denis and Mary got married on 2nd June 1956.

Denis and Mary have two sons Pat and Denis and a daughter Nora.

Pat played Gaelic football with Colaiste Chriost Ri; however he had to pack it in following an injury. He was delighted when Pat who was heavily involved with Cork Constitution for many years was chosen by Donal Lenihan to look after the Lions gear when the Lions toured Australia in 2001. Denis was captain of Avondale and played some hurling, while Nora is an ardent Blackrock supporter and former Blackrock camogie player.

Denis and his family

Denis has two grand daughters, Ellen and Jayne. Already the two girls are Rocky supporters and so Denis is very confident that the traditions of the Rockies will live on in the O'Keeffe household for many years to come. The arrival of his first grandson, Ronan O’Keeffe on the 5th April 2006 brought great joy and happiness to Denis and he was often heard to say that hopefully some day he will play for the Rockies.

Denis and his two grand daughters

Denis comes down as often as he can from his home in Ballintemple Village to Church Road to watch the Rockies play hurling on summer evenings. He was very upset during 2005 when his lovely red fiesta was stolen from outside his home and disappeared, despite a city wide search by the Gardai and Rockies everywhere.

Denis, with Joe Phibbs and the Blackrock Under5's at Church road on a Saturday morning

No matter, Denis still made it down to his beloved club where he monitors closely the progress of all the underage hurling sides at Church Road. A recent trip saw him attend the official opening of the new complex where he met many of his old friends.

Denis’s beloved wife Mary passed away on the 3rd January 2007. Denis died on the 13th April 2008.

May they rest in peace.