Vol 28 No.6 - May 2006 - TUI

www.tui.ieTeresa ForanOn the last dayof July 2005 in thesun drenchedgraveyard atGlenmore in SouthKilkenny, TeresaForan was laid toTERESA FORANrest. It was a sceneof great grief and sorrow for the largegathering of family, friends, students pastand present. It is difficult to imagine thatTeresa has passed to her eternal reward, shewas only 50 years old. Everyone who knewTeresa will never forget her.I remember the first day the young teacherfrom Clare came to the staff room in theold Vocational School (now Coláiste CoisSiúire) in the historic parish of Mooncoin inSouth Kilkenny. Bounding with energy andresourcefulness she proved to be a vital forceon the teaching staff of our school from thefirst day she came through the front door.Teresa loved her job and everything that itentailed. She taught Maths and Science atJunior and Leaving Certificate Level, she wasa very consciencious and dedicated teacher.These qualities came across to everyone,especially the students. It followed then,that she had a great rapport with them.They saw her as someone they could dependon and trust. Teresa got automatic respectfrom the students by her behaviour towardsthem. Her innate courtesy was an importantpart of her personality. Teresa was a goodfriend to all the young teachers that formedthe staff during her 27 years of faithfulservice to Coláiste Cois Siúire. She waseverything a good teacher should beand more.Teresa was born in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare50 years ago, (20 April). Educated in thelocal National School and Convent. Shewent on to University College Galway totake a Science Degree and Higher Diplomain Education. Her first teaching post was inMooncoin, where she was very happy, andhad a wonderfully fulfilled life, thanks to hernatural warmth, sincerity, unselfishness andgreat capacity for making friends. You knewwhen you met her that she was delightedto see you.Teresa Hogan met and married John Foran;they made their home in Aylwardstown,Glenmore. There she again excelled in therole of wife, mother and homemaker parexcellence. Teresa became part of parishlife at Aylwardstown and Glenmore. Forsomeone who was very shy she made friendseasily. The friends she made in her adoptedparish, were to prove a tower of strengthto her in her final tragic illness.And so to the final scene at Teresa’slast resting place in the old graveyard atGlenmore, where her generous spirit waslaid to rest , in the presence of a hugecongregation – her family, friends, teachingcolleagues, students past and present, and allwho loved her were numbed with grief.To John, Niamh, Eoghan, James and Thomas,Babs and the Hogan and Foran Families, herColleagues, her many Friends on their behalf,we offer this appreciation for someone we allloved and will never forget.Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.Denis BuckleyMartin KieltyIt is with extreme regret that I write thisappreciation of my dear colleague andfriend Martin Kielty, who passed away on 11 thDecember last. Martin was a true gentlemanin every sense of the word. He was a giftedlinguist – fluent in 6 or 7 languages. Martin,who grew up in Mill Street, Galway, wherehis parents ran a grocery shop, got hisfirst taste of spoken Spanish through hisconversations with sailors at Galway docks.Even as a teenager he was often calledupon by the gardaí to act as interpreterin difficult situations.Having graduated from UGC, Martin marriedFidelma McGann, who was at that time anurse at St. Bride’s Nursing Home.The newly-weds set off for Nigeria, wherethey spend two years; Martin took up ateaching post, while Fidelma nursed at alocal hospital. On their return to Ireland theysettled in Co Kilkenny. Martin taught French,English and Spanish at Slieveroe VocationalSchool, Co Kilkenny for five years. Onreturning to Galway in 1974, Martin begana long association with MoneenageishaCommunity College, where he taught Frenchfor many years. He also taught German toPost-Leaving Cert Students. He was widelysought after whenever there were tripsabroad where his linguistic talents weremuch in demand. He was a valued memberof the staff for many years until he tookearly retirement in September 1995. Sadly,by then his dear wife Fidelma, who was anurse at Merlin Park Hospital, had gone toher reward.Martin spent the last years of his retirementwith his daughter Nadia and grandson Alexin Westport. Sadly he was diagnosed with aserious illness in October last. It was amazingthe manner in which he accepted his illnessand how he was so candid in the way inwhich he spoke of it. His funeral Mass at StJoseph’s Church in Galway was celebrated byhis colleague and friend Fr. Michael Crosby,who paid a fitting tribute to him – a tributeMARTIN KIELTYwhich was nicely interspersed withlittle anecdotes of his teaching days inMoneenageisha.Martin is sadly missed by all his formercolleagues and students in Moneenageisha,as well by his many friends and relations.To Nadia, Padraic and Alex we offer ourdeepest sympathy.Solas na bhFlaitheas d’á anam uasal. D.H.TUI NEWS39