Following a short and untimely illness, Bryan O'Connor of Green Briar, Park Road Killarney passed away at home. Although born in Ardfert, Bryan spent most of his life in killarney where he attended St Brendan's College as a boarder before returning as a teacher following his studies in UCC. He eventually gave 39 years of service to the school. Among his students and peers, Bryan was considered a gifted teacher of history and English. He had an amazing memory for facts and details and there was a great breadth to his knowledge of history. He was a definite people person and had great insight to human nature. He had a great knowledge of local people and places and had an extremely sharp wit and a great sense of humour. When these talents and knowledge were combined in the classroom history became real, poetry and English Literature became alive. For many years he was the 'anchor man' on school tours to Stratford-on-Avon, Moscow etc. where everybody was enriched by the breadth of his knowledge. He had a natural interest in people an d loved to trace relations and connections between people. In his young days in school, when the number of pupils was smaller and more local, he could trace the genealogy of every boy in school. He had an equal interest in everybody and could communicate with everybody. When school became more diversified, with pupils from many different nationalities, he was still to the fore in communicating, welcoming and making people feel at home. With his colleagues he was a storyteller without equal. Maybe he embellished and expanded the stories somewhat but that is the art of storytelling! He was also solid as a rock and the person one could turn to for advice or if one simply needed to 'off load'. His time and his counselling was always freely and generously given. He was always affable and could brighten up one's day with a cheery remark or something "wickedly" funny. In his young days he was an enthusiastic sportsman playing football and hurling for Ardfert. His heart would always lie in Ardfert and, indeed, north Kerry and he felt at home once he crossed the bridge at Farranfore. He never lost his interest in sport and his phenomenal memory enabled him to recall great matches from many years past. He was always interested in card playing and in later years became an expert bridge player - once again his memory and sharpness of wit coming to the fore. He was devoted to his family, his wife Betty and children Rachel, Tom and Rosemary. His grandchildren were the lights of his life and he spent many happy hours with them. Bryan was laid to rest at Aghadoe Cemetery. Courtesy of The Kerryman. 17 October, 2007 Tweet

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