He was the great hero of Mushera the All Ireland two mile hurdle champion of nineteen hundred and ten
I knew him when i was a youngster he was showing the wear of time then
He did not have to boast of his achievements his great record did say it all
When Duhallow old timers talked of famous athletes Paddy Keeffe’s name was one they did recall
.
In two mile hurdles in his prime in Ireland he was the number one athlete
But he never went to the Olympics Ireland then as a team did not compete
He was then the best athlete in the Country as a mountain hare quite as fleet
And he was more than the pride of his Townland in the high country above Millstreet
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Before Duhallow’s dual Olympic Gold Medallist Pat O Callaghan was born Paddy Keeffe was in his glorious prime
In the early years of the twentieth century and that is going way back in time
Of those who saw him compete in his best years perhaps none is living today
Time it does take care of the greatest and it never stops ticking away
.
As a young athlete never found to be wanting he proved himself when put to the test
An All Ireland two mile hurdle champion he remains as Mushera’s best
I knew him when i was a youngster his hair it was as white as snow
He must have been quite close to eighty the years had left him walking slow.
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Community website for Millstreet, Co. Cork, Ireland
Francis
Could we have more information about him?
Jack Lane
Hello Jack
Good hearing from you that is a good question on Paddy Keeffe only met him once in Den Donnelly’s bog in Caherbarnagh he was frail and aged at the time and he walked with the assistance of a cane as memory serves me i was quite young at the time but i did recall old timers from the Killarney Rd talking of Paddy Keeffe namely John Joe Daly, Pad and Jack Sullivan and Den Looney by their accounts he was a true champion i listened as they recalled the day he returned to Mushera as All Ireland two mile hurdle champion bonfires blazed along the roadside to welcome him back home to Mushera, in those days Irish atletes did not compete in the Olympics as they would not compete under the Union Jack hence depriving Paddy Keefe of even greater glory as you would know there were some great old time sportmen in and around the Millstreet area in the early years of the twentieth century such as the great road bowlers Johnny Jack Murphy and Denny Penny Kelleher and great athletes such as Harry Coher and Paddy Keeffe amongst others, on Paddy Keeffe, Michael Casey of Tooreenbawn would have known him better than i did maybe you should have a chat to him about him the next time you visit Aubane i can imagine a book on the life of Paddy Keeffe coming to life in that great brain of your’s, no doubt you know his children Danjoe and Concepta, at this point i would like to thank Michael Cashman for including some of my stuff on the Millstreet website from time to time as well as Eily Buckley and Hannelie O Connor and Sean Radley amongst others who give of their time to bringing up to date news of Millstreet to Millstreet migrants in all parts of the World, i conclude with a piece I penned many years ago on Paddy Keeffe.
Francis Duggan
The Champion From Mushera
I remember him quite vaguely and his hair was silvery gray
But he was a famous athlete way back in his younger day
He used to visit Caherbarnagh, call to see Den Donnelly
And though quite young I still remember as I have good memory.
He walked with a cane’s assistance and his walk was stiff and slow
But he was All Ireland champion many, many years ago
And an old time sport’s fan told me that in the year of nineteen ten
The All Ireland two mile hurdle Mushera’s Paddy Keeffe did win.
‘Twas nineteen ten I think he told me I stand corrected if I’m wrong
That Paddy Keeffe from Mushera was the man revered in song
And that from Macroom to Mushera bonfires by the road did burn
For to welcome back their hero when their champion did return.
There were great men in Duhallow just remember Dr Pat
He was two times Olympic Champion only few can equal that
And he broke a World hammer record in nineteen thirty two
And his homeplace Derrygallon became known to quite a few.
But before Dr Pat was even born Paddy Keeffe had won his fame
And through Muskerry and Duhallow he’d become a household name
But he never competed in the Olympics never had the chance to try
And the old time sport’s fan oft times used to ask the question why? .
Because Paddy Keeffe in those days was an athlete next to none
And the fastest men in Ireland he had beaten and outrun
He may have been Olympic Champion may have come home with the gold
But he wasn’t asked to compete so the story has been told.
If you see an aged fellow slowly shuffling down the street
Do not dimiss him with scorn he may have been great athlete
Just like Paddy Keeffe from Mushera one I used to vaguely know
A renowned All Ireland champion many, many years ago.
hi Francis, we’re only too delighted to put up your pieces on millstreet.ie. they’re very popular with the readers. personally, i’ve learned quite a deal about local people that are long gone that probably would have been forgotten and never remembered again.
It’s important that stories and memories don’t fade away with the people that have them. we only realise what we’ve lost when it’s too late. my generation aren’t really story tellers like older generations, but at the same time we do find it interesting to listen to them.
one of the objectives of millstreet.ie is to record those stories and put them in the public domain for all to view whenever they want.
thanks again, michael
Thanks, Francis.
I will follow up with Michael. It will be a pleasure.
All the best,
Jack