J J KEAVENEY:J J KEAVENEY, who has died in Derry at the age of 73, lived a full and active life despite being a quadriplegic for his last 18 years. Earlier, he had been an inspirational teacher of English at St Columb's College, Derry, for 31 years.
Former student Paul Boyle called JJ amazing: "He treated you as an adult. He brought out things in the plays and books you never thought of."
At the time of his death, JJ was putting the finishing touches to his translation of one of the neglected classics of Irish literature, Róise Rua by Pádraig Ó Cnáimhsí. His will be the first translation of this story of a woman's life on Arranmore Island off Donegal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is due for publication in April next year.
After becoming quadriplegic, JJ carved out a new life as a broadcaster, writer and translator. In the mid-1990s, BBC Radio Ulster broadcast a remarkable bilingual programme recording his visit to Arranmore to trace Róise Rua. Despite being wheelchair-bound, he toured the island in a minibus with Ó Cnáimhsí. The exchange of insights between the two was compelling.
Peter Hegarty, a producer at BBC Radio Foyle, worked on projects with JJ. "JJ really got stuck into it, churning the stuff out," Hegarty said.
"He was always upbeat, and had a great spiritual strength. He coped with a terrible accident, but was even more personable after than before."
One of JJ's most widely available writings is a memoir of life in his native Moville, Co Donegal, during the second World War. It is available on the BBC's website. He was also a talented poet, published in various publications.
He championed Inishowen novelist Joyce Cary. Cary was recognised as a significant writer in the first half of the last century. Subsequently his work fell into neglect. JJ did his bit to ensure that neglect was reversed.
In March 1990, JJ fractured his spine in an accident on the Omagh-Ballygawley Road in Co Tyrone. The previous September, he had taken early retirement from teaching.
Then, as JJ worked to overcome his disability, tragedy stuck again when his son died of leukaemia.
JJ was paralysed from the chest down, able to use his arms but not his hands. Therefore, he taught himself to use a computer with a plastic device on his hand and built up a world-wide network of correspondents.
For as long as he could, he made regular expeditions into Derry city centre. He was a recognised expert in navigating it by wheelchair, knowing all the handy ways to go.
James Jude Keaveney was born on the January 18th, 1935 in Moville, Co Donegal, the 10th of 12 children. His father, James Keaveney, was a Galway man, who had been imprisoned for his part in the War of Independence. His mother, Bridie Shanley, was a Leitrim woman who worked in the Post Office. Older brother Paddy Keaveney and niece Celia have both served as TDs.
JJ was educated at St Columb's College, then UCD, where he gained a BA and MA in English. He taught briefly in Enniskillen and Downpatrick, then from 1958 to 1989 at St Columb's.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen and children Maeve (Paris), Ciaran and Séamus, and by three sisters and two brothers.
JJ (James Jude) Keaveney: born January 18th, 1935; died September 17th, 2008