The Late Brendan Munnelly, The death has taken place following a long illness of Mr. Brendan Munnelly, Rathbawn Drive, Castlebar. Aged 59, the deceased was a member of a well known Castlebar family, and was a highly respected teacher at Davitt College. His death came at the end of a long illness which he had bourne with great dignity and fortitude, living life to the full until the very end. Born the eldest son of legendary G.A.A. star, Josie Munnelly, and his wife Mollie, Brendan inherited a love of Gaelic football as a player, supporter and trainer of Davitt College teams. He was educated at St. Patrick's N.S. and St. Gerald's College and, having graduated from U.C.G., took up teaching at Davitt College. As a teacher of English at the school, his love of his subject was matched by an innate ability to communicate his knowledge and feeling for English to his students. He was an inspirational teacher, and among the many tributes paid to him by ex-students was that he could always bring the best out of his class by virtue of his patience, courtesy and respect he showed to each individual learner. A keen sportsman, he was a devoted follower of the county team and of Castlebar Mitchels, while he took great pride in coaching the Davitt College side to two All-Ireland appearances. He was a proficient golfer and was a regular competitor at Castlebar Golf Club where golfing endeavour was usually spiced with the convivial banter of a friendly foursome. He loved music too, and was a member of Castlebar Choral Society for a number of years. It was his courage in the face of serious illness, however, that marked Brendan Munnelly as a man of rare faith and endurance. Throughout that long illness, he never took refuge in self-pity; he was uncomplaining, taking fate as it came, and determined to live each day to the full. He was a familiar figure as he enjoyed a brisk daily walk with his faithful dog, Ben; in recent months, a trip to Lourdes had been followed by a bracing cruise holiday with Ita; and right up to the end, he had been hoping to make another visit to Lourdes. He loved and was loved by his devoted family, and it was one of his great joys to be blessed with the arrival of his first grandchild, Luke, even as the clock of his own life was beginning to tick down. The attendance at his funeral ceremonies was large and representative, with teacher colleagues, friends, present and past students and parents sharing in the grief of his bereaved family. The guard of honour comprising staff and students of Davitt College, friends from the G.A.A. and golfing colleagues was a deserved tribute to one who was held in such high regard. He is survived by his wife Ita, daughter Una and sons Brian and Kieran, daughter-in-law Leone, grandson Luke, brothers Ger and Jody, sisters-in-law, aunt Julia, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Eight priests concelebrated his Funeral Mass at the church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, before he was laid to rest in the New Cemetery, Castlebar. May his noble soul have peaceful rest. Courtesy of the Mayo News, October, 2004. Tweet

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