Inspiring teacher and true gentleman
An inspiring teacher, a true gentleman and a rugby stalwart, John O’Hara of Sunday’s Well Road, Mullingar, passed away peacefully on December 19 at the age of 94.
A native of Coralstown, Mullingar, John was educated at St Mary’s CBS, Mullingar and University College Dublin. He began his teaching career in the early 1950s at Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham, where his love of rugby was born. He taught there for 14 years before joining the staff of St Mary’s CBS in Mullingar, where he taught English and Latin until he retired at the age of 66.
John was president of Mullingar Rugby Football Club when they purchased their club grounds at Cullion. He was also a prominent rugby referee and established a panel of referees. He remained a great supporter of the club throughout his life.
John met his wife Kathleen 69 years ago and they married three years later. They have four children – Deirdre, Alan, Maeve and Stephen.
Stephen inherited his father’s love of teaching and rugby, and John was extremely proud when Stephen was appointed manager of the Ireland U18 rugby team.
John O’Hara was a quiet man, a good man who was devoted to his family and his pupils.
In the many tributes paid to John, he was remembered as a great teacher who commanded respect in the classroom and outside, was most helpful and at times a highly entertaining colleague.
One past pupil recalled travelling “all over Leinster in his (John’s) brown Ford Cortina, having great fun and lots of success” on the rugby field. Many remembered his compassion, kindness and interest and his encouragement, an inspirational teacher who kindled an interest in learning and in reading.
One of his English students from the 1975 Leaving Cert class recalled John’s great ability to impart his love of literature and language to his students. “Like an actor on the stage, he recited with feeling the lines from the great Shakespearean plays and sonnets,” and his enthusiastic reading and analysis of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock by TS Eliot made a profound and lasting impression.
He is remembered as a kind and decent man who frequently shared his thoughts on humanity and the state of our world, ideas that are as true today as they were 50 years ago.
“You never directed a cross word at any of us and you had us all in the palm of your hand,” another past pupil wrote, adding that fellow teachers and students alike learned much from John who enhanced their lives during his exemplary career.
John died as he had lived, quietly and peacefully, at Newbrook Nursing Home, after a long illness, bravely born. He was predeceased by his daughter Marie and brothers Patrick and Martin. John will be forever remembered and missed by his loving wife of 66 years, Kathleen, his children Deirdre, Alan, Maeve and Stephen, cherished grandchildren Susan, Aaron, Laura, Keira and Emily, his dear sister Helen, son-in-law Don, daughter-in-law Alexandra, cousins, relatives and friends.
His removal was from Shaws Funeral Home, Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar, to the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, for funeral Mass. John was laid to rest in Ballyglass Cemetery.