Born in 1973 (as heralded by the UK Independent, inset), Jamie O’Keeffe grew up in a County Waterford farming family in the lovely townland of Lisnakill, Butlerstown. 

Educated locally and in CBS Tramore, he decided to become a journalist after briefly studying accountancy at Waterford RTC.

He has written extensively about news, current affairs, sport and history since starting as a teenage trainee reporter with the Dungarvan Observer in the early nineties, where he also learned page layout after initially using old-style paste-up boards.

At the start of the millennium, Jamie moved to The Munster Express, spending eleven happy years on The Quay. After a gap of 12 years, he returned as Editor in 2023 before the title changed hands.

Jamie has also published several books, including a highly praised centenary history of Kilmeaden Co-op in 2016. His great-grandfather was the first farmer chairman of the society a hundred years earlier, so the project was a bit of a labour of love.

Having had a seven-year stint in Dáil politics as a parliamentary assistant from 2013-2020, his next role was as a communications officer in the non-profit sector. Jamie has also undertaken lots of freelance work for SMEs and large businesses as well as sports clubs, community groups, and individuals.

His professional roles have entailed a wide range of responsibilities, including digital and traditional marketing, social media and web management, research and strategy.

Living with his family in Tramore where he is long-time Secretary and PRO of the local Rangers football club, Jamie also fills the same positions with Fenor GAA.

His interests include sport and history, which, together with his rural upbringing, informs much of his writing on this website.