By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Fr. John Keane with his friends from Equador: Marcia Rojas, Maria Renee de Sanzetenca, Dorian Sanzeenea, Fritzy Sambrana and Karla Rojas
Tickets are now on sale -and selling fast- for a fundraising dance featuring legendary Irish country star Louise Morrissey at the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal. The concert, on Friday November 7th hopes to raise money towards the missionary work Fr. John Keane, a Youghal priest working amongst the extreme poor people in Ecuador.
Fr. Keane arrived in Ecuador in 2006 and works with the St. James the Apostle Society in the largely urban setting of the Good Shepherd Parish, La Libertad. “It’s a vast area, where thousand of people live side by side in cane shacks,” he explains. “There is no work, no money, health facilities and worse of all, nowhere to grow crops for self-sufficiency ”
Against this grinding poverty, the priest has organized several relief programs. A fortnightly ration distribution scheme attempts to feed 2,000 people for two weeks at a cost of €2,000. He also runs medicine purchasing program for malnourished babies and small children, a daily breakfast program for children who arrive hungry at school, clothing supplies and assist with cane house construction.
“Every cent raised goes direct to people in dire poverty. There are no Read more
































