Keane of Kilnamona

Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae of Br Thomas Keane's Teaching Career

Baldoyle:1925/26:   Graduated in Teacher Training at 18 yrs.

Portlaoise: 1926/33: Principal of CBS Primary School after two years; From being rated lowest in diocese in religion and poor by secular inspectors after a few years the school was rated excellent and first in the diocese and graded ‘Efficient’ by secular inspector.

Baldoyle:1933/35:   Teaching in Christain Brothers Juniarate; attended evening classes at UCD and passed First Arts.

Mount Sion,1935/36: He taught leaving certificate honours Mathematics and Latin (with only primary school qualifications).  He had charge of the senior hurling team, incl., Pat Fanning, later President of the GAA.

University College Cork, 1936/38:  Graduated with first class honours in Irish and Latin, with maths as a subsidiary subject.
St Joseph’s Fairview:    Principal. 1938/44, (All Irish School).  Studied for the Higher diploma in UCD. Under Br Keane’s guidance the first Leaving Certificate class in this all Irish secondary school was inaugurated in 1940/42. Prepared the first students (of what was to be many through his teaching life) for a career in the State and other professions including the Meteorological Service.  He took charge of the senior hurling team and fashioned St Joseph’s into what was to become a great team and a feeder for St Vincent's  GAA Club. Distinguished students:C  J. Haughey, George Colley, Kevin Boland.

Doneraile/ UCC   , 1944/45:     Continued teaching while studying for an honours MA – thesis on Na Bráithre Críostúla agus an Ghaeilge (The Christian Brothers and Irish).

Mount Sion, 1945/50 (All Irish School)  :  He took charge of the leaving certificate, teaching mathematics, physics, applied maths, Irish, and Latin, all honours grade. The results were wonderful, pupils obtaining many posts and university scholarships and first place in various subjects, including gold and silver medals one year for Irish. He was a great inspiration to the then famous Mount Sion hurling teams.  Among his many distinguished graduates in Church and State was Paddy Buggy, later President of the GAA.

Dungarvan, 1950/56 (All Irish School):   Superior.  Known as the Br Keane years. The first Principal to encourage ban on corporal punishment in schools (1950). Past students of his included Austin Deasy, Minister for Agriculture, 1982-86. Wonderful encouragement was given to games, especially hurling.  The school reached the final of the Dean Ryan Cup on four different occasions. Many graduates with excellent results.
Westland Row, 1956/57:  A one year sabathical!

Mount Sion, 1957/1966 (All Irish School): The excellence of his teaching was continued while he wrote the first mathematics book  (publ. 1965) for the new honours curriculum to come on stream in 1960’s entitled Matamaitic na hÁrd Teistiméireachta. Br Ó Catháin presented a copy to Eamon de Valera, Uachtarán na hÉireann. Past students of his include Brian O’Shea, TD.
Templemore, 1966/72 (All Irish School):   Though Superior continued teaching Leaving Cert Honours. With introduction of free education undertook school building programme completed in record time to cater for ever increasing numbers. Deputy Noel Noonan TD was pupil of his.
Árd Scoil Rís, 1972/84/Salesians (1979/81), Limerick:   Although in retirement years, continued honours teaching both to boys and nearby Salesian girls.  Great results were obtained. (for first time many girls from the Salesian school, now having honours science went onto medical field).  Political graduate: Peter Power,TD and Minister of State.

return