‘We will miss you beyond words’: Heartfelt tributes paid to Limerick man following passing in Dubai

TRIBUTES are pouring in following the passing of Limerick man Edmond (Eddie) O' Keeffe who has been described as "an energetic, lively soul that always beamed positivity."

Cllr Tommy O'Sullivan who worked as caretaker for Scoil Pól, Kilfinane where Eddie formerly attended school described him as a "shining light" and paid tribute to him, saying: "I know the family all my life. My heart goes out to them. He was such a nice young fellow, even here in school and I remember him, he just sticks out in my head, that's the legacy he left to me."

He added that Eddie was a "pure gent" and said the local community is "devastated."

"He was such a pillar within sport and community, the school community and the community itself... and everybody loved him."

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Dubai Celts GAA Club paid tribute, stating that Eddie was "a true gent, one in a million."

"We will miss you beyond words, and will continue to shine just as you did."

The club met on Sunday to hold a service celebrating Eddie's life at the Hillhouse Brasserie, Dubai Hills Golf Club, a place that Eddie loved.

Eddie went viral at the 2022 World Cup with a hilariously timed interruption on French television. He was in Qatar for the World Cup when he took the opportunity to interrupt a live French news broadcast. The short clip gained tens of millions of views

“Je suis une baguette!” (I am a baguette) the Limerick man exclaimed. The video took flight on social media due to French comedian Pierre-Antoine Damecour and former footballer Gary Lineker sharing the video on Twitter.

Blackrock GAA Club also paid tribute to the late Mortalstown, Ardpatrick native who was a former club member and player, saying that it was with "deep regret and sadness" that they announced Eddie's death.

Eddie attended Scoil Pól and was a graduate of University College Cork. One mourner who lectured Eddie in Cork said: "His picture here is exactly how I remember him - always positive, always enthusiastic, always seeming to be smiling and seeing the light in whatever he was doing and in being so, he brought others with him."

The Limerick man also worked for Amazon and one of his colleagues said: "From our early days in Amazon Cork, Eddie was always a breath of fresh air and positivity. Later, as we both moved to Dubai, it was lovely to catch up with him and watch as he quickly progressed in his career, satisfied his wanderlust, and became well-known (if not legendary!) in GAA circles."

READ MORE: ‘End of an Era’: Local shopkeepers retire after decades of service in Limerick village

A fellow expat also paid tribute to Eddie: 

"It was always such a comfort to see a familiar, friendly face from home over in Dubai, always up for a chat and a laugh. He’ll be dearly missed by everyone who knew him, especially all of us with the Dubai Celts."

He was also described as "an energetic, lively soul that always beamed positivity when coaching the Dubai Celts camogie team" and "a bright, outgoing, and engaged student."

Eddie died suddenly but peacefully on Thursday, October 9 in Dubai where he had been living for the past number of years. He was based in Marina Heights, Dubai.

Beloved son to his broken hearted mother Catherine. Eddie will be forever missed by his devastated family including his father Tim, brother and best friend Timothy, sisters Belinda and Rosemary, heartbroken girlfriend Caroline, Tim's wife Marie, brothers -in-law Brian, Andrew and Timothy's partner Lyanna, adoring nieces and nephew Aoibhín, Réigha and Tiernan, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family and many close friends, team mates and Amazon colleagues.

His family, his Amazon management team and his friends in Dubai, are currently trying to navigate the very difficult process of bringing Eddie home.

Funeral arrangements to follow.