DCU awards Honorary Doctorate to former Chief Executive of Barnardos, Owen Keenan

30 March 2010

Owen Keenan pictured here with his daughter

Dublin City University has awarded an Honorary Doctorate to Owen Keenan, former Chief Executive of Barnardos.

Owen Keenan was born in Dundalk, Co Louth, and was educated at University College Dublin, being awarded a BSc degree in Social Science in 1972. After a four-year period in Birmingham, where he trained as a social worker, he returned to Ireland to bring his experience to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and later to the Daughters of Charity Service for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Throughout his career, Owen Keenan has sought to develop solutions to the problems resulting from poverty and social deprivation. In 1990 he was appointed
as first Chief Executive of Barnardos Ireland, where he spent over fifteen years building a strong national support structure for vulnerable children. He was an ardent voice for childrens' rights at a policy level.

He began the organisation's first bereavement service, and also initiated a tracing and information service to assist former residents of industrial schools when they were released back into society.

Since stepping down from his position in Barnardos in 2005, Owen Keenan established a consultancy, Middlequarter, which provides technical expertise and advice to non-profit organisations both in Ireland and around the world. He has also worked to foster our understanding of philanthropy on a cultural level.

Owen Keenan remains active in the work of children's advocacy. He has served as President of both the European and International Fora for Child Welfare
and he recently completed a term as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Social Research Unit at Dartington.

Speaking at the award ceremony, DCU President, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski said, "This award recognises Owen Keenan's pioneering work on behalf of Barnardos in Ireland, giving it a significant public profile. It also acknowledges Mr Keenan's role as public advocate on behalf of childrens' rights. The protection of vulnerable children must be one of our key national priorities at this time, particularly in the light of recent news. Owen Keenan has been one of the strong national voices in this regard. While Dublin City University promotes economic growth and business, it is also strongly committed to supporting the rights and interests of the disadvantaged".