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- The Nationalist -Tipperary - Saturday 1 August 1970
Temporary Appointments
That Dr J F O'Dea be employed at temporary psychiatrist with effect as from 1st May 1970 for a period of six months or until alternative arrangements are made whichever is the earlier.
The Irish Independent - Saturday 23 November 1991
O'DEA (Moveen, Jackson's Cross, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary) - Nov. 21, 1991 (at St. Paul's Ward, St. Luke's Hospital), Dr. John, loving husband of the late Maisie O'Dea, wonderful father of Ann, Jane and John; deeply regretted by his sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. R.I.P. Removal from Fennessys' Funeral Home tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 7 o'c. to St. Mary's Church. Rosary al 6.30 o'c. Requiem Mass on Monday at 10 o'c. Funeral immediately afterwards to St. Patrick's Cemetery.
The Nationalist -Tipperary - Saturday 30 November 1991
AN APPRECIATION
Doctor Jack O'Dea
Friends, colleagues and patients were saddened to learn of the death, on 21st November, of Dr Jack O'Dea, for many years senior consultant psychiatrist, St Luke's Hospital, Clonmel.
A native of Clarecastle near Ennis, he was educated at St Flannan's College; Ennis and University College, Galway where he graduated in Medicine in 1929. He was a brilliant student winning many prizes and honours.
After various hospital appointments and a term in general practice in England he took up duty in St Luke's Hospital. Clonmel in 1934 and was to be the life and soul of the place until his retirement in 1970. Spending so much time in one hospital, his name became a by-word in County Tipperary North and South, as generations of patients came to experience his expert care. He was always in the forefront of psychiatric progress, introducing new treatments and using every method of promoting recoverv.
He had a marvellous rapport with patients and their relatives; everyone felt a great confidence in him; they instinctively knew that here was someone who would do everything possible to get them well. In 1958 he was given responsibility for tackling the serious overcrowding in the hospital. Such was the energy and enthusiasm he applied to the problem, the number of in-patients was reduced from 900 to 725 in a brief period of years and the hospital was set on the road towards a community-based service with out-patient clinics, hostels, day-centres and rehabilitation. He was always very proud of the standard of medical and nursing care in St Luke's, which he himself had fostered and encouraged.
Jack O'Dea was the kind of man who seemed to thrive on challenge and responsibility, helped greatly by a mischievous and irrepressible sense of humour. He loved wit, jokes, and humorous anecdotes of all kinds and even enjoyed jokes about deafness, a disability which became increasingly troublesome as he got older, He read widely and was interested in polar exploration, travel, history and above all sport. He was a familiar figure at Sunday matches at the sporting venues in Clonmel. He did trojan work during the war years as secretary of Clonmel Golf Club and was captain of the club in 1947 and 1955.. For many years he spent his summer holidays in his beloved County Clare at Kilkee. He always returned with a sun tan that lasted for the winter, a new fund of "outrageous" stories and heart and mind refreshed for the endless joust with illness and disability.
He enjoyed a long and full life but the death of his beloved wife Maisie last December was a blow from which he never fully recovered.
We salute the memory of a gifted and resourceful psychiatrist, a devoted family man, and a lover of life, who faced challenges and trials with an indomitable spirit.
Our deep sympathy is extended to his son John and his daughters Ann and Jane in their sad loss.
May he rest in peace. P.M.
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Abt 1905 - 1991 (~ 86 years)
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