Kilkenny athletics community pays tribute to Thomastown's Willie O’Keeffe

The Kilkenny athletics community was in mourning after the passing of Thomastown’s Willie O’Keeffe.

A lifelong member of Thomastown AC, having joined the club back in 1953, he was elected treasurer of the club in 1957 and secretary in 1959 and held both posts until March 2003. Willie himself was a keen competitor in cross country and race-walking. He won seven county senior team medals, seven county senior walking medals along with holding five Leinster senior one mile walking championship titles. He capped it all in collecting his national medal in the veterans.

At county level Willie was always involved, holding the position of registrar from 1959 to 1964, also at various times serving as secretary, treasurer and chairman. Willie continued as a great supporter of Thomastown AC in his senior years.

He attended many races, supporting the club athletes, particularly his grandchildren, who keep the O’Keeffe flag flying in the club today. When not in attendance, he would always ensure to get the full post-race report in the evening.

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Willie coached many athletes down through the years, many of whom often recall their memories of both success and failure, joys and horrors of cross country running. There are not many people in Thomastown who were not contacted to put on the singlet to make a cross-country team at some stage in their life.

One standout memory for the O’Keeffe family came in Adamstown in 2014, where 11 of Willie’s grandchildren competed and medalled in the cross-country championships, contributing to a very successful day for Thomastown AC and the Kilkenny teams.

Alongside the many hours out into athletics in Thomastown, Willie was heavily involved in all things Thomastown GAA.

Originally Willie played for Thomastown Rangers, before being involved in the first juvenile committee of Thomastown GAA club. He held various committee positions in the club down through the years. A keen supporter of the club, he was ever present on many sidelines - he was one of the very few to be in attendance at Thomastown’s two county senior titles in 1946 and 2024.

Willie was also involved in Kilfane Handball Club and a key member of the organising committee that purchased land, and roofed the existing 60x30 handball alley, paving the way for club development which now sees superb 60x30 and 40x20 handball facilities.

Willie was a true volunteer in every sense of the word. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.