Power, Ned
November 27, 2012Mr Edward (Ned) Power, Boherduff, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, who passed away peacefully at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny on Wednesday, 24 October, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on Christmas Eve.
He had served as principal at Newtown National School, Bagenalstown for 35 years and taught at the school for a total of 45 years. A native of The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ned was the eldest in a family of seven children of Patsy and Margaret (née Power) Power. The Power family originated in Tramore, Co Waterford but moved to the Curragh through their relationship with the Parkinson family, horse trainers, of Maddenstown Lodge, The Curragh. Ned was brother of Paddy Power, the former Fianna Fáil Minister for Forests and Fisheries, defence and Trade, Commerce and Tourism. Paddy, the youngest of the family, is Ned's only surviving sibling. Educated at primary and secondary levels by the Del la Salle Brothers in Kildare town, Ned was subsequently called to teacher training, where he continued his association with the De la Salle by studying at the order's teacher training college in Waterford. His first teaching appointment on graduation was at his alma mater in Kildare, where he taught for six months before being appointed to Newtown National School, Bagenalstown. That was in 1933 and for the next 45years he was a highly regarded teacher in Newtown NS, being appointed principal around 1942. Ned replaced Maurice Collins, a cousin of Michael Collins, as school principal. Ned was very conscientious as teacher and principal. He was firm but fair and was held in the highest respect by generations of local boys and girls. Ned's last contact with Newtown/Dunleckney NS was at the end of June last when, at the invitation of Muiris Bric, school principal, he raised the school Green Flag. It was a great joy to him to be amongst the school pupils again and his remark on that occasion was "it was like old times".
Ned Power became central and vibrant aspect of the Newtown community. A dedicated GAA man, Ned Power was a member of the Fighting Cocks football team which claimed the Carlow Intermediate football championship of 1938, having won an O'Derrig Cup medal with the Cocks the previous year. Playing in the colours of Muinebheag in 1942 Ned won an Intermediate football tournament medal. In his schooldays Ned won a Kildare GAA Schools League football title. Quite naturally he followed the fortunes of the Kildare footballers down the years, always living in hope that he would see his native Lilywhites lift the Sam Maguire Cup. They last did so in 1928 when he was a 15-year old. Coming as he did from Kildare, Ned also had a great love of horse racing and horses but while he greatly enjoyed the sport of kings never laid a bet after his marriage to Kathleen Kinsella from Bagenalstown. Kathleen predeceased Ned- she passed away on January 1st, 2009 aged 87.
A devoted family man, Ned had great well of love for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - a love that was reciprocated in full by all three generations. Grandchildren came from Darwin and San Francisco travelled to pay their respects to a greatly loved man. Ned had enjoyed robust good health throughout his life. But in August last he developed pneumonia and his health deteriorated to the point that he was hospitalised in Kilkenny in the days before his passing. He was waked at home before removal on Thursday, October 25 to St Patrick's Church, where the remains were received by Fr Declan Foley, PP Bagenalstown. Fr Foley celebrated the Funeral Mass on Friday morning. Symbols of Ned's life brought to the altar at the start of Mass were a history book and a gardening tool - he was a very keen gardener. Ned was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery, with Fr Foley saying the final prayers at the graveside.
Guards of honour were provided at the funeral by members of Fighting Cocks GFC. By members of the teaching profession and children form the local national school. Ned is survived by his children Sister Francesca (Brigidine Order, Tullow) - formerly Marguerite- Patrick (Dundalk), Maírín O'Brien (Coolasnaughta, Myshall) and Angela Nolan (Kilconnor, Fenagh). He is also mourned by his brother Paddy (Caragh, Naas), by his eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Ned was predeceased by his sisters Ellen Colin-York (Northhampton, England), Margaret Holmes (Appleby, Cumbria), Bridie Power (Appleby), Sister Teresina (Presentation Sisters, Kildare) and May Quinlan (Caragh, Naas). The Month's Mind Mass for Ned Power will be celebrated on Friday, December 7, in St Patrick's Church, Newtown at 7pm.
(Text courtesy of Kildare Nationalist 27/11/12) Tweet
