FRANK FOLLOWS IN HIS PARENTS’ STEPS ON PROUD KERRY NIGHT IN NEW YORK

A DESCENDANT of Brosna has assumed one of the most prominent positions in Big Apple Irish-American circles on his election as President of the New York’s Kerrymen’s Association.

Frank O’Keeffe is the newly-elected President, following in the footsteps of both his parents – the late Jimmy O’Keeffe and the late Nora Curran. Jimmy was a past President and Nora was a past President of the Kerry Ladies’ Association.

“Jimmy O’Keeffe was of the famed group of members with union ties. Back in the day, a young emigrant would attend a Kerrymen’s General Meeting on Sunday and have a job on Monday morning,” PRO and Ballyferriter native Muiris Bric told The Kerryman as all in the association communicated their delight on Frank’s election.

The AGM marked the end of another hugely successful year for the benevolent association, in which it contributed $88,000 to the Kerry Sports Centre of Excellence; contributed to Pieta House at home and in New York and distributed $10,000 in scholarships to the children of members.

Muiris said that Frank and the board of officers are determined to carry on ‘this great tradition of giving and being there for our Kerry People’ as the Association heads into the future on a great footing. They also paid tribute to their late, Beaufort-native, chaplain Fr Brian Coffey.

New officers of the Kerrymen’s Association in New York: Front, from left: Pat Buckley, Sergeant-at-Arms (Killarney); Judge Brian Hughes, Vice President (NY); Frank O’Keefe, President (NY); Mary Daly, Recording Secretary (Rathmore); Mike Kelly,...