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Gerry Keegan Biography
About the year19**, or more years than I care to remember, the local curate in Donnycarney, Dublin - announced that he was hoping to set up a group for young people - especially anyone who might be interested in having a chat about life and things, but with the intention of doing real things about real life situations. It was/would be part of an international movement called the Young Christian Workers - (YCW). I was already beginning to explore my own faith - or lack of it - especially since my Dad had challenged me about it. I also knew the priest personally - Denis Laverty - who had agreed to marry myself and my girlfriend. I was really sold by the philosophy of the movement - The Three Truths: Faith; Reality; Method. And the deep belief - which was part of the Truth of Faith, that each of us is Unique & Special; in our personalities, gifts etc., Being involved in a small group lead to great fun and also real insights, and it wasn't long before my own Faith life took off in an amazing direction. Realizing that the Gospel message could really be related to everyday life in our day and that it is just as relevant today as ever, led to an experiential relationship with the Lord. For a then 21 year old who had rebelled against most of this stuff, this was revolutionary - personally speaking.
Being into music - (piano and mainly guitar) - this experience also led to the first song I ever wrote: Love Is Patient - which is now the title track of my first album. (Most of the tracks can be heard in full on gerrykeegan.com with a blog on the background to all the songs. There are also samples on myspace/gerrykeegan). Being involved in YCW, and because of what I learned at this time, really helped me through various stages of my life later on. In the mid 70's I had the honour of being elected the first National President of the Irish YCW. They were really great times.
As time went by, and thinking that I had it made, I began to take the odd glass of wine with a meal, believing that some of the troubles I'd had with alcohol as a teenager were just simply those of an immature teen. I was wrong! It took about six years for everything to fall apart, faith - both in myself, others and God/work/relationships and so on. But for the strength and commitment of my wife and the support, wisdom and know how of Denis, to help people with addictions, I probably wouldn't be here today. Recovery began in '84. And the initial stage took about 5 years - I call it the learning to "cop on" period. I was so blessed to have a close knit group of family and friends around me, to challenge and support me through this period of my life. During this time I also wrote songs about the various experiences. I then took the decision to leave working in, what I would call a `regular job', and got a job as a development worker with the YCW. I also began doing some part time retreat work, and really loved it. Over the three years that I worked with the movement and with retreats, the learning curve was a tough one, as it ran concurrently with the first five years of recovery. Also during this time, my father died, and this too took its toll. Again, through the people around me in my life and the lessons and experiences learned through the now almost automatic or unconscious application of See, Judge & Act; the method of reflection and action of the YCW, I continued to grow. And like all growth - one step forward, three steps back and so on. Again, the songs I was writing told the story of these experiences, and as my time with YCW came to an end and the retreats took over, - the songs I had been writing about my Faith & Life journey, became the pillars upon which the retreat work was based. These experiences and various works, have taken me all over Ireland, and also to Northern Ireland, France, Germany and Slovakia.
And so to this day, now 22 years or so since my first taste of retreat work, the journey continues. The lessons learned over the years, from the method and approach of the YCW; the steps needed to bring about change through the fellowship and 12 step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous; the application of techniques learned from William Glassers Reality Therapy/Choice Theory and Fritz Perls Gestalt Therapy; have all had their own `input' into what I do. But the real inspiration comes particularly from the power and simplicity of the Gospel message of Jesus, and the experience of this through the lives of those closest to me. This also continues to inform the songs that I write, which as I have said, form the basis of the work that I do.
As I continue to `grow' forward, I hope to move more into using the music and songs I write, in getting the message of Hope and Love out to a wider and more varied audience than before - while at the same time keeping my involvement with retreat work across the country.
For contact details: gerrymkeegan@gmail.com web site gerrykeegan.com - also on Myspace and Facebook; or if you like you can follow me on Twitter.
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