This week, Editor of the Killarney Advertiser Michelle Crean was 'In Conversation' with Superintendent Dan Keane who lives in Glenflesk. The Bantry man, who has lived in Killarney for 32 years officially retired last Friday from An Garda Síochána after 37 years service.

During his expansive career, which began in 1983, Dan was involved many serious crimes and disturbances in the Kerry Garda Division including over 12 murder cases - being the Senior Investigating Officer on many of these. He was also the first appointed Detective Inspector in the history of An Garda Síochána in Kerry. Over the years he was involved in numerous VIP security details including politicians, US Presidents, Princesses, Ambassadors, and the visit of Prince Charles and Camilla to Kerry in 2018.

Now the 56-year-old, who is taking up a severance package targeted at Senior Managers in the Garda organisation, is preparing to slow life down and says that it will certainly be a different pace and something which he'll have to get used to.

The father of three, who is married to Catherine, is hoping to travel when it's safe to do so, and he's especially keen to see his middle son Kevin in Sydney who works for Ernst & Young. More time will also be spent with his oldest Daniel, who is a serving Garda in Kilkenny and youngest Aidan who is heading into his Leaving Cert year in The Sem.

"I'm planning to take stock for a while and in the New Year see what happens," Dan told the Killarney Advertiser. "I'd love to visit Kevin in Sydney and tour parts of the world I've never been to post-COVID."

Career

Aged just 29, Dan was promoted to Sergeant and spent seven years as a Detective Sergeant in Killarney. He was then promoted to Inspector in 2005 and appointed to Detective Inspector in 2007.

In 2012, he took up the role of Superintendent, and over the past eight years has served in Roxboro Road, Limerick, Henry Street, Limerick, Listowel, and Tralee.

Dan was Superintendent in Charge of the Limerick City of Culture for the year 2014 which had a quarter of a million people out on the streets of Limerick - the biggest ever crowd recorded in Limerick over three days, bigger than when the Pope came in 1979 or when J.F. Kennedy came.

And asked what his favourite time in service was, he adds that it was all of them.

"I enjoyed every rank. You build up a certain amount of experience with each one and get something different in all of them. I was the first Detective Inspector for the Kerry District for five years and that was very challenging but rewarding and I've enjoyed my time as Superintendent."

He thanked the many colleagues he has worked with over the years.
"You meet a lot of people with a lot of different backgrounds. Working with them has enriched my career. I'd like to say a big thank you to the public in Kerry as well."