News has just reached us of the sudden death of Dr. Sean Keane, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and formerly of Youghal, Co. Cork.  Over many years Sean Keane welcomed countless members of the Workers’ Party to his home and was always most generous and ever willing to do all he could to assist the party.

An accomplished surgeon, Sean played a major role in developing a first class orthopaedic practice in Milwaukee.

Sean was a friend and strong supporter of Cuba. In the difficult days when Reagan’s Contras were running wild and spreading death and destruction, especially in Nicaragua and El Salvador where the democratic struggle for freedom and justice was under constant threat, Sean Keane never hesitated in standing with the oppressed against tyranny.

To comrades of the Workers Party he was a true friend.  Most especially to our late comrade Seán Ó Cionnaith, who spent many years in the US organising the Republican Clubs and who received great support from his friend Sean Keane.

In the mid 1970s, when our comrade Malachy McGurran was diagnosed with Melanoma, Sean Keane went to great lengths to assist Malachy in attempting to defeat his cancer.  It was indeed thanks to Sean that Malachy’s life was prolonged, and at times it seemed that thanks to Sean’s great care that Malachy would conquer the disease. Alas, as well know, it was not to be.