Ms. Eimear Gilroy R.I.P.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Saturday February 18th, of our dear friend and colleague Eimear Gilroy. Eimear’s requiem mass was celebrated in Athboy on Tuesday 21st February. It was attended by our heartbroken staff, along with some parents and past pupils from St. Kilian’s.
Eimear graduated from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, in 2007 and taught with us here in St. Kilian’s ever since. She had been on long term sick leave in recent years as she fought a courageous battle against illness. Indeed, some of the current staff recently told me how they brought Eimear’s belongings over to our new school from the old in November 2016, but sadly, she never managed to return to teaching in the new building.
Eimear will be remembered by all her past pupils and colleagues for her immeasurable kindness, compassion, creativity and above all her wicked sense of humour. She was full of personality and fun and passionate about the welfare of all her pupils, most especially of those who didn’t necessarily conform to the norm. In them she may have recognised kindred spirits! Her classroom was full of colour, activity and music. Her pupils were always engaged with the very latest trend whether it be X Factor, Bake Off or Masterchef. Unfortunately, I was very often the judge obliged to taste and ‘savour’ their sometimes dubious dishes. She was never without her guitar, using it to help inspire and entertain her pupils. She helped prepare children for the National Children’s Choir and was always on hand to assist with music for the sacraments and other special occasions. She worked tirelessly to pass on her love of the written word.
When Eimear went on sick leave, she remained in contact with the school staff. She kept up to date with birthdays, marriages, and all other special occasions. If you were isolated with Covid you might find a big box of goodies on your doorstep, left there by Eimear. She delighted in the arrival of newborn babies on the staff and ensured they were suitably spoilt. I have it on good authority that she even named one of those babies! One teacher texted me to say that ‘she was the kindest person I’ve ever known.’ This sentiment in essence sums her up and is why she will certainly be missed by all of us here in the Mullagh school community.
We will organise some fund-raising activities for the Irish Kidney Association over the coming weeks in Eimear’s memory. We will have a Lá Glas, Mufti Day for pupils on Thursday, March 16th. There will be a staff lunch and collection on this day also. We will remember her at our Confirmation ceremony today and we will have a mass in her memory before the end of this school year. I will give the school community a date for this over the coming days.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with her proud and loving family, her parents Gerry and Margaret, her sister Dearbhla, who is also a primary school teacher, and her brothers Rónán and Conor.
A Eimear, a chroí, ní bheidh do leithéid ann arís gan dabht.
Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a hanam agus go mbeidh suaimhneas síoraí aici i measc na naomh.
Ronan MacNamara (Príomhoide).