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The Unconquerable Keane
by David Smith
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 5th June 2010
ISBN: 978-1-907179-59-4
Price: €15.00
This is the story of John Keane, Waterford’s greatest hurler, and the era in which he played. Having made his mark at minor and junior level he played on the Waterford senior team for seventeen years and was the trainer/manager of the county’s greatest team – that which took the field between 1957 and 1963. His story, therefore, is also the story of Waterford hurling from the1930s to the early 1960s and forms the first part of this work.
John was the quintessential clubman and his name and that of the Mount Sion club were, for many years, virtually synonymous. Present at its creation he was a central figure in its activities for the rest of his life. His story is the story of Mount Sion’s rise to greatness and forms the second part of the book
The author is a nephew of John Keane, with an intimate knowledge of John’s life and career and the book is illuminated with many recollections and anecdotes from John’s family and friends. It also has four appendices, including a statistical record of John’s career and is a historical record of the period. It will appeal to historians and hurling fans alike.
About the Author
The author was born in Waterford city and, in his youth, lived only a short puck-out from the Gaelic Field. He was educated at the Presentation Convent school and Mount Sion Christian Brothers’ schools where he developed a love of Irish and English literature, history and sport – particularly hurling. Having joined the Electricity Supply Board directly from school he served for several years in counties Donegal and Laois before returning to Waterford where he worked until his retirement. Over the last decade he has contributed articles on historical topics and hurling to newspapers, books and history journals. He is married to Anne and they have four daughters.
