Tributes as ‘inspirational’ former editor dies

Tributes have poured in for Paddy O’Keeffe, chairman of the Agriculture Trust and former Irish Farmers Journal editor, who died peacefully at his home in Ballyhooley, Co Cork.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, along with the Irish Farmers Journal, the IFA, ICMSA, Teagasc, and other leaders in the agri-food sector, have expressed sympathy to his wife Jane, and children Margaret, Elizabeth, Josephine, and Patrick. Mr O’Keeffe, who died on Sunday, was predeceased by his first wife of 60 years, Anne, in 2011.

Mr O’Keeffe, aged 89, was chairman of the Agriculture Trust, publishers of the Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Field. When Mr O’Keeffe became editor in 1951, the Journal’s circulation stood at around 2,000 copies. He oversaw its rise to 70,000 copies per week. He retired as editor in 1988 and remained as CEO until 1993.