Maurice O'Keeffe'
Maurice O’ Keeffe (September 5, 1919- March 22, 2017) was born and lived all his life in Glounreigh between Ballydesmond and Kiskeam in County Cork. Maurice had ten brothers and sisters. He was a child of Francis O’ Keeffe and Mary O’ Connell (Molly Morrissey , Glencollins). His mother, Mary O’ Keeffe was an accomplished concertina and melodeon player from a noted musical family from nearby Glencollins, and she made sure to get young Maurice and his siblings started early on the music. When Maurice was 10 years old his mother purchased a fiddle for him from a shop in Ballydeswmond and arranged for lessons with John Linehan was a renowned teacher and performer from Glounreigh who had been a student of Corney Drew. By the time Maurice started lessons with him Linehan was quite aged, and indeed it seems Maurice was his last pupil. Nevertheless, the lessons were productive and imbued Maurice was a style and repertoire that would serve him well throughout his long life. When Linehan passed away, Maurice continued lessons with his mother, and no doubt absorbed considerable music from the maternal family. Frequent house parties, at the O’ Keeffe home and those of neighbors, guaranteed plenty of opportunity for Maurice to hone his craft.
Family Life
Maurice married Peg in 1947 and lived in the same house Maurice was born and reared, in Glounreigh. Together they then reared eight children. Four girls and four boys. Maurice taught some of his children to play the box. Maurice and Peg were always welcoming to any visitor that called to the house. A fond memory that their children have growing up in the home was that there were always musicians visiting their house. Maurice and Peg welcomed 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Maurice loved children and was always “diddling” tunes and loved to see them dancing to his tunes. The tradition carries on within the grandchildren and great grandchildren as many of them play musical instruments including the fiddle.
