This article is from page 16 of the 2013-04-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE legendary West Clare athlete Willie Keane was hailed as a hero of Clare and all Ireland on Easter Sunday night as the Stella Maris Hotel in Kilkee played host to a special tribute night in his honour.
Over 200 people turned out at the celebratory function staged in the Kilkee man’s honour that doubled up as a fundraising night for the West Clare Cancer Centre in the town.
On the night friends, former teammates and rivals from around the county and around the country joined together to pay homage to the Kilkee colossus Keane whose remarkable athletics career saw him win 56 AllIreland titles between 1969 and ’79.
“Willie Keane was the king,” said former international cross-country colleague Mick Priest from Meath, “and as far as I am concerned he still is the king who did so much for NACA athletics in his career,” he added.
Sixty-three-year-old Keane was interviewed on the night by RTÉ GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey and in a wideranging discussion that was interspersed with contributions from the floor he recalled a stellar career in which he landed national titles in every distance on the track from 1500 to 10,000 metres as well as being cross-country runners of his or any generation.
“Every organisation needs a hero,” said former rival Colm Rennicks. “We didn’t have to look any farther when we got Willie Keane. That man is a legend. When you’re in the presence of greatness, you should recognise it. I knew I was in the presence of greatness the first time I met him. I still think it – it hasn’t changed,” he added.
World renowned physical therapist, Gerard Hartman revealed how it was the Keane who inspired to get involved in athletics – a journey that saw him become a scholarship student in America, multiple triathlon champion and physio to such athletic luminaries such as Paul Radcliffe and Sonia O’Sullivan among others as he has treated 61 Olympic medal winners and 47 World Champions.
“I used to see this man on Kilkee beach in an An Clár vest going up down, up down, up down. I didn’t who he was,” revealed Hartmann. “Willie was professional even though he didn’t know he was – it was his application that helped him win 56 national titles.
“Willie Keane was a great inspiration to us all – when I saw him on the beach in 1972 and I was inspired. I started running and became national triathlon champion seven times and been to six Olympic Games as a physical therapist.
“I wonder how many people have been inspired by Willie Keane – I’m sure up the country they’re all around the country. You were an inspiration to me. It’s a phenomenal tribute when you’re acclaimed by your own people. The parish and the people around you who value what you did are here tonight to respect years and years of application, dedication and success,” he added.
Among the other contributors on the night included Willie Keane’s wife Marie, Laurance Larkin of St John’s AC, former Clare NACA chairman Tommy McCarthy, Ger Keane on behalf of the Keane family, Paddy McDonnell who co-hosted the event with Marty Morrissey, chief Kevin Shaloo and Willie McGrath of the West Clare Cancer Centre.