The late Brother Edward Dowling It was with deep regret that news of the passing of Brother Edward Laserian Dowling on September 18, 2006 was met in his native County Carlow. Bro. Edward passed away at St Patrick's Nursing Home, Baldoyle, finally losing his long battle with a debilitating and painful illness. He was 73 years of age, 59 of which were spent in the congregation of Christian Brothers. Bro. Eddie, as he was known, was born in Templepeter. Rathoe, in 1933 to a farming family. As a boy he developed a passion for Gaelic footballer and hurling, which remained with him throughout his life. He was a noted as a skilled footballer whose lack of height didn't impede his prowess in the game. He was famous for his ability to field the high ball, a skill that earned him the nickname "The Lepper" Dowling a reference to his ability to leap into the air. Bro. Eddie Dowling remained an avid GAA supporter all his life and liked nothing better than attending games. No game was too insignificant and it didn't matter to him whether the match was an All-Ireland final in Croke Park of a first round Junior B in some rural village. As a Christian Brother, Eddie taught in schools throughout the south of Ireland and became renowned for his progressional approach to the job, his good humour and courtesy in the classroom. He spent six years in Tralee, Co Kerry as principal and superior of the Christian Brothers School in Clounalour from 1974 to 1980. While, there he oversaw the purchase of gym equipment for the school hall and the employment of a full-time PE teacher. He was also responsible for the taking on of a special needs teacher and for the setting up of the school band. Brother Eddie was a devoted teacher and gave up much of his free time coaching the students after schooling hurling and football. He always felt that this was as important a part of their education as anything they learned in the classroom. He was a highly motivated teacher and was able to pass on his enthusiasm for the subject to those he taught. More than anything else, Bro. Eddie will be remembered for his loyalty; loyalty to God, loyalty to his Church, to his congregation and to the cultural tradition in which he was reared. he had an amazingly positive outlook on life and barely had time to think about the negatives. He tried to fill everyday with a sense of purpose and achievement. His gentle manner and the courtesy with which he treated people earned him a lot of friends. He was also noted for his warm personality, his sense of humour, and his unfailing generosity of spirit. He is predeceased by his brother John (Stockport) and deeply mourned by his brothers Danny (Templepeter) and Michael (Gorey), sisters Nan (Carlow), Kathleen (Ballymartin) and AGnes (Glynn), brothers in religion, a large circle of friends, his GAA comrades, and by the generations of students that came under his tutorage. Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist 26 January 2007 Tweet

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