tle=”OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA” src=”http://irishinphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Tommy-Keenan.jpg” alt=”” width=”380″ height=”419″ /> Unofficial official photographer for the Irish community, Tom Keenan.
By Kathy McGee Burns
“The best compliment to a photographer is to see his photographs hanging on your wall, ” Tom Keenan, one of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame award winners for 2012, told me recently.
The longtime Irish Edition photographer has had his share of compliments. His pictures of people from Philadelphia’s Irish community—and the many photographs of Ireland he’s donated to auctions and raffles—are everywhere, just like Tom Keenan himself.
When AOH leader and St. Patrick’s Day Parade President Bob Gessler nominated Tom to receive this award, he wrote: “ He has for years, chronicled every aspect of our community. With little fanfare or fuss, Tom Keenan, has at one time or another, made all of us part of History.”
Tom Keenan was a Kensington boy, one of five sons (Robert, Hugh, Michael and John are his brothers) of Hugh and Thelma Keenan. His father died when Keenan was still young. When his mother remarried, she added
Kathleen, Donna and Billy to the brood.
Tom graduated from Frankford High and enlisted in the Navy, where he served aboard the USS Simon Lake. When he was discharged, he returned to Philadelphia where he attended Philadelphia Community College and in his own words, “majored mostly in soccer and girls.” He met his sidekick and the love of his life, Jane Mulvenna, at the Friendly Bar. He had just moved into a new apartment and invited everyone back for a late night party. Jane and Tom have been together ever since–37 years. They have a son, Dylan Thomas Keenan.
As a boy growing up, Tom Keenan spent a lot of time with his Uncle Mike Ruane and Aunt Helen. They would take the Keenan kids to the Irish Center where they would “run around like Banshees,” enjoying the Irish music, dancing and food.. Mike was a great republican (in the Irish sense) whose mantle was overflowing with Celtic crosses, harps and much paraphernalia from Long Kesh (aka His Majesty’s Prison, site of the Hunger Strikes).
Between the flavors of the Irish Center and his uncle Michael Ruane’s politics, Tom developed a lasting love for Ireland. But he came to his love affair with photographer relatively late.
In 1983, Tom Keenan started work at the Philadelphia Naval Yard installing electronics equipment on ships and submarines; missile systems and radars. That all came to an end when the shipyard closed.
So, in 1987, he decided to follow his passions. He joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians, returned to school to learn photographer, and became, in his words, the “unofficial official Philadelphia Irish community photographer.” Chances are if you’re at an Irish event, you’ll find Tom Keenan there. He covers galas, games,
I asked Tom to tell me which of his many photographs were his favorites. He did so with words filled with passion and sentimentality.
The first was the arrival of the three-masted replica of the famine ship, Jeanie Johnston in 2003. Tom was invited by Bob Gessler and Seamus Boyle, National President of the AOH, to escort the ship into Philadelphia. They drove him to Wilmington, DE, where he was taken by tugboat out to meet the tall ship. While on board the tug he started to see a mast, shrouded in fog, coming under the Commodore Barry Bridge. To him, it looked like a ghost ship. He started snapping pictures and little by little this magnificent ship came into view. He boarded it and sailed right in to Penn’s Landing.
The second photograph involved the Irish Memorial. He had been taking pictures of the various stages of development. There was a wreath tossing which commemorated the souls lost in the voyage over. Then an event which introduced a small replica (15×6”) of Glenna Goodacre’s yet-to-be monument. Finally, in 2003, came the unveiling of the 30-foot bronze statue with its two dozen life-sized figures. To Tom, taking the photo at the moment of the unveiling was like Christmas morning and opening a special present. It was the coming together of all the Irish to witness a long-awaited dream.
Tom Keenan described to me the joy of capturing “Old Ireland” with his camera; photos of things people can’t see anymore: thatched cottages, fishing villages, small towns. He visualizes the people in those times, big families with two rooms and no running water.
During the Hunger Strike days, he was asked to join Northern Aid’s Honor Guard. With each new death, they would add a small white cross. These were sad but proud days for Tom Keenan.
Tom sounded very determined when he mentioned that Philadelpia should have an Irish Museum. He believes that all of treasures, memories, and artifacts that are donated or held in one place or the other in the region should be together under one roof.
Tom Keenan is totally genuine—he’s loved by all and a keen observer of life who told me that he thinks that “Life is like sitting on the boardwalk, watching the people go by until one of them comes over and says hello!”
The Delaware Valley Hall of Fame Awards Dinner is on November 11
2012, Irish Center. 5PM. For tickets, call Sean McMenamin 215-850-0518 or Maureen Saxon 610-909-0054
