Contributed by Joan Keating
The Keating family hail from Cork city. Their family history
begins with ties to the iconic Ford Car Factory. Motoring
mogul Henry Ford wanted to reward the land of his
forefathers and set up the Ford Car Factory in Cork in 1917.
Like many others during that time, the Keatings
made a move to East London in the late 1930s,
driven by exciting career opportunities presented
by the new Ford Factory in Dagenham.
Jeremiah (Jerry) Keating was one of five children. His life
was marked by the early loss of his parents while he was
still in his thirties, leaving little opportunity for stories or
memories to be passed down. Jerry himself died at the age
of 56, when his own children were in their late teens/early
20s. The impact of these early losses shaped the family,
creating a sense of resilience and self-reliance among the
younger generation. Jeremiah was an avid photographer,
capturing moments of family life and the world around
him. He transitioned from working at Fords to joining the
Merchant Navy. His travels with the Navy took him around
the world, with South Africa standing out as his favorite
destination—a place he described as ‘absolutely stunning’,
despite the hard work he endured in the boiler room.
Rose Hearnden, Jerry’s wife, brought her own unique
heritage into the Keating family. A Londoner who converted
to Catholicism, Rose embraced her new faith with
enthusiasm, though she sometimes struggled with its
rituals and traditions. Her conversion added a rich layer
to the family’s spiritual life, creating a blend of traditions
that would influence their daily lives and celebrations.
Rose was a working mother, balancing her responsibilities
at home with a long career as a clerical worker at the local
magistrates court. Her dedication to her work outside
the home was a source of pride, reflecting the family’s
strong work ethic and determination to succeed in their
adopted country. The couple had two children, who grew
up in a household where Irish traditions, Catholic faith,
and a deep sense of community shaped their upbringing.
A poignant memory from those years was the experience
of being shunned due to Jerry’s Irish accent—a subtle
but persistent reminder of the challenges faced by
Irish immigrants in England. However, Jerry’s kindness
shone through when the family church brought over
children from Northern Ireland, who were at risk of
becoming involved in the ‘Troubles’. Jerry made a point
of befriending these families, taking them to see the
sights of London and making them feel welcome.
Jerry’s parents, who had also made the move to England,
lived in Ballards Road, Dagenham. Their home became
a cornerstone for the wider family. A number of Iodgers
from Ireland helped with the family finances – some of
whom turned up for Jerry’s funeral many years later.
Jerry and Rose’s family life in London centered around
the community in Wapping, where they first settled after
their marriage in 1955. Wapping, with its close-knit Irish
community, provided a sense of belonging and continuity
for the Keatings. Religious ceremonies were a significant
part of life there, with the May altar processions around
the flats being a particularly vivid memory for the family.
The Keating family’s story is also marked by the
activism of Aunt Eileen, who worked as a seamstress
in the Ford Dagenham plant and played a role in
the historic Dagenham Strike in 1968 where female
workers walked out to protest sexual discrimination,
demanding equal pay. The successful strike led to the
Equal Pay Act 1970. Her presence on the picket line
became a source of family pride, as they occasionally
spotted her in television footage about the strike.