[3] For his service in this war he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) and received the Queen's South Africa Medal.

[4] In October 1902, Keane was seconded as staff officer and appointed aide-de-camp to Sir Henry Arthur Blake, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong.

Before the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922, Keane had worked with the IAOS, served on Waterford County Council and was a member of the All-for-Ireland League that supported Home Rule.

[7] In 1922, Sir John was nominated by the President of the Executive Council to Seanad Éireann of the Irish Free State, and served until 1934.

The Editor of Debates prudishly excluded the quotation from the Official Report; the entry states only: "The Senator quoted from the book".

At the end of the debate and much discussion in the public press, his point made, Sir John sought leave to withdraw the motion.