Batt O’Keeffe (b. 1945), former lecturer

Batt O’Keeffe was born in Cullen, Co Cork, into a family of six boys and one girl. His father was a relieving officer, cattle dealer and farmer, and his mother ran a small village shop. He was educated at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, of which he has very fond memories, and while there he excelled in Gaelic football and also enjoyed his game of handball. He decided against attending third-level college full-time and began work with the ESB as store manager and administration officer, and in 1966 he began his studies at evening classes, and graduated with a BA prior to taking up a teaching post at the Crawford. He taught English and general subjects to Technical Leaving Certificate classes, a job which he very much enjoyed. The new regime at Bishopstown brought about many positive changes, as new disciplines were introduced and new standards of achievement became possible. Batt O’Keeffe fondly remembers Jim Roche who was the first Principal at the RTC. He also recalls the staff football team and their great social gatherings, his introduction to politics which followed his involvement with his local community in Ballincollig, and he discusses his present position (2009) as Minister for Education and his ambitions for the future of education in Ireland.