Leading eye surgeon Prof Michael O’Keeffe has been appointed new Honorary President of Vision Sports Ireland.
Prof O’Keefe is a leading eye surgeon who pioneered laser eye treatment in Ireland during the 1980s. He specialises in paediatric eye surgery at Temple St University Hospital where he links in to Ireland’s leading maternity hospitals. Prof O’Keeffe is based at Mater Private and Mater General in Dublin.
Welcoming Prof O’Keeffe at the Vision Sports Ireland AGM on Friday 22nd May Chairperson Robert Dobbyn said “we are very honoured to have a man of such eminence to guide and represent us. He is a fantastic and very affable man who leads by example.”
VSI Vice Chairperson Joe Geraghty, who has known Prof O’Keeffe for 25 years, says “Prof O’Keeffe is an eye genius who is not afraid of work. I recall seeing him in the Mater on Christmas Day and also carrying out a procedure on St Stephen’s Day. I have seen him do hospital rounds at six in the morning and as late as 11 in the evening.”
Joe says the best tribute he ever heard of Prof O’Keeffe was from a colleague of his who said “when God made Prof O’Keeffe he must have thrown away the mould cos we’ve never seen anything like him around here ever since”.
Prof O’Keeffe hails from East Cork and is a member of a much loved political family in the area. He is not shy of controversy and if he sees injustice and shortcomings in the health service he won’t just tell you, he’ll tell the nation on radio and TV.
Prof O’Keeffe takes over the VSI Presidency from the late broadcaster Colm Murray and also succeeds other legends including Fred Cogley and Liam Nolan (our founding President).
VSI is a very honoured organisation to have Prof. O’Keeffe as President.