Great sadness after death of well known Derrynane publican

THERE is great sadness in the Caherdaniel and Derrynane area this week following the death of much loved local publican Bridie Keating.

Bridie – who owned and ran Keating’s Bar in Derrynane – passed away suddenly last Friday, January 12

She was laid to rest in the cemetery at Abbey Island in Derrynane on Monday following requiem mass at St Crohane’s Church in Caherdaniel.

Keating’s bar – located in a small, picturesque caravan campsite beside Derrynane Harbour – has been a popular haunt for locals and visitors for decades and hundreds of mourners travelled from far and wide to attend Bridie’s funeral mass on Monday.

Across various social media sites many hundreds of tributes were paid to Bridie, who was described as a local treasure who brought great joy to generations of people.

Keating’s – originally a small hotel – welcomed its first customers in the 1890s when it was opened by Bridie’s grandfather. Her father Michael took over the business in 1927 and, soon after, he opened the popular pub on the premises.

When her father fell ill in 1963 Bridie returned to Caherdaniel from Dublin – where she had spent several years working in the Dáil and Bank of Ireland – and took over the running of the pub.

She remained there to the end of her days and just the night before her sad passing she was, as ever, behind the bar enjoying an evening with a few of her regular customers.

Bridie was predeceased by her brothers Donal and Fr Michéal, sisters Eileen and Carrie. She is survived by her sisters Maura O’Sullivan and Margaret Harrington, brother in-law Joe C Keating extended family and many friends.

The late Bridie Keating