Death of Vision Sports Ireland President Prof. Michael O’Keeffe

Image of a man with short grey hair wearing a suit.

Vision Sports Ireland are sad to announce the death of our President, Prof. Michael O’Keeffe.

Michael was a world leading paediatric eye surgeon who returned from London to Dublin in 1988. He guided many Vision Sports Ireland members, parents, and children, through very traumatic life experiences. He was warm, gentle, and so friendly to all who knew him. He was a huge advocate for sport and physical activity and was instrumental in the growth in Vision Sports Ireland.

While most associated with Temple St. Children’s Hospital and the Mater Hospital. Michael was also linked to several other Dublin hospitals including Holles St. and the Rotunda. Since June 2020 he has practiced at the Institute of Eye Surgery at Clane Hospital and was also Professor of Paediatric Ophthalmology at University College Dublin.

In May 2015 Michael became President of Vision Sports Ireland. As President he attended all our major events including the launch to merge Vision Sports Ireland with NCBI in March 2020.

He is fondly remembered for his lunchtime presentations at Vision Sports MayFests. Each year he arrived with one of his many celebrity friends Derek Mooney, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh to name just a few. For our 2021 40th Anniversary he invited Miriam O’Callaghan to host the closing ceremony for our online event.

Over the years he provided financial support to Vision Sports Ireland and was always willing to use his network of many friends to support our organisation reach more blind and vision impaired people.

Michael O’Keeffe will be dearly missed by the Vision Sports Ireland family.

May he rest in peace.

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