Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 220-221:
Denis O'Keeffe

Mr Michael O'Keeffe was MP for Lockyer for many years and the family was therefore well known to that young curate James Duhig at Ipswich in the 1890s. A son, Denis O'Keeffe attended the Christian Brothers in Ipswich and a future priest was seen in the making.

Denis Matthew O'Keeffe was born near Laidley in 1885 and began schooling at the Blenheim State School. After his secondary education, he was sent across to Ireland to prepare at Mt Melleray and then transferred to All Hallows. His health broke down over there so he returned to Sydney to complete his studies at Manly where he was ordained in 1911.

Dalby was 'O'K's first appointment - 1912-1917. In 1918, he was made first Parish Priest of Oakey. Here in 1920 he had a convent and school completed and ready for the arrival of the Good Samaritan Sisters.

His next promotion was Administrator of St Patrick's in the Valley. While there, he had a large share in the formation of the new Parish of New Farm and bore the worry of collecting funds during hard times for the building of the very fine Holy Spirit Church, opened in 1930. The Valley and New Farm were 'mensal parishes' so he could not even be guaranteed what money he did scrape together!

Then for some few years Fr Denis was Parish Priest at Beaudesert before he was moved to Nundah in 1941. He carried on excellent work there too until slowed by failing health. After a short term in the Mater Hospital, Fr O'Keeffe died on 29th September 1956. The Archbishop spoke of his achievements in a short tribute at the Cathedral after the Requiem Mass celebrated by Michael Carew, nephew of the deceased. Burial followed at Nudgee Cemetery.

Fr Arthur O'Keeffe was no relation.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

---

Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev Denis Matthew O'Keeffe, died 29 Sep 1956

Denis Matthew O'Keeffe was born, on 5 October 1885, in his parents home of "Blenheim", Laidley. His father, Michael O'Keeffe, was Member for Lockyer in the Queensland Parliament for many years. [His nephew, Michael J. Carew (q.v.) and John Chalmers, his grand-nephew, were also a priests of the Brisbane archdiocese.] He was educated at the Christian Brothers College, Ipswich, during the 1890s [while James Duhig was an assistant priest in that town.] Seminary studies were undertaken at Mt Melleray, Ireland, and All Hallows College, Dublin. Shortly before completing his studies his health broke down and he was sent home to complete the last 6 months of his studies at St Patrick's, Manly. He was ordained priest in Sydney, by Archbishop Kelly, for the Archdiocese of Brisbane on 30 November 1911. As a priest of Brisbane Archdiocese he served in the following places: assistant priest, Dalby (over 5 years), Charleville (briefly), Ipswich (to 1918); parish priest, Oakey [the first] (1918-1920); administrator, Fortitude Valley (there 1926-1933); parish priest, Beaudesert (there 1936-1941), Nundah (1941-1956). At Oakey, he built the centre's first Catholic buildings; and, at Beaudesert, he was responsible for the construction of the local convent school. While at Fortitude Valley, he did much to assist in the creation of a new parish at New Farm, where he built the Holy Spirit Church. Although in indifferent health for some time, he continued to carry out his priestly duties until a few days before his death. He died in the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, on the morning of Saturday, 29 September 1956; and was buried on Monday, 1 October, in Nudgee Cemetery at the conclusion of Requiem Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral. Fr. M. J. Carew was celebrant of the Mass and Archbishop Duhig preached the panegyric.
(Ref. O'Leary's)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.