The Late Br Patrick Kieran Maher Br Patrick Maher died in the Christian Brothers' Nursing Home, St. Patrick's, Baldoyle on April 23 in his 86th year. He had been ill for some months previously and spent quite an amount of time in the Mater Hospital before returning to St. Patrick's, for what turned out to be the final week of his earthly sojourn. His reconciled and peaceful disposition at the approach of death was a wonderful example of how to accept death as part and parcel of God's total plan for us. May he rest in peace. Br Maher was born in Thurles, and came from a family whose contributions to education was remarkable. Both his parents were teachers, while two of his brothers taught almost all their lives in Thurles CBS Secondary School. He also had two sisters who joined the Ursaline Congregation. One died quite young while the other, Sr Mary Immaculate is still happily with us in the the Ursaline Convent in Waterford, but owing to advanced age was unable to attend the funeral. Br Maher or PK, if you prefer, taught in the Brother's Primary School in Westport from 1972 until his retirement from primary teaching in 1982. He then did a six month Spirituality Course in Rome, after which he undertook teaching hours in St Mary's Secondary School, Drogheda, St David's Artane, and then was assigned to Colaiste Choilm, Swords where he was to become a very important member of the games co-ordinating team until 1998. He didn't believe in "rustling out". He made other significant teaching contributions in Mount Sion, Waterford, Roscommon, Killkenny and Kells. He was at his zenith in Roscommon from 1943 to 1950, finding time to assist the local hurling team. He played for quite some few years for the Roscommon County Hurling team, and was picked in 1946 to represent Connacht in the Railway Cup v Munster. It is also interesting to note that he was picked at midfield on the Roscommon Millennium Hurling team. He liked to play his hurling in the traditional Tipperary style! Golf was another abiding interest of his, a formidable player who played to a low handicap of eight, before moving in the opposite direction. He liked to have plenty of company at his games, and so, in place where he laboured, he was adept at organising school staffs in the pursuit of the small white ball and he wasn't accustomed to taking no for an answer!. After the game he loved to relax in the Clubhouse and chat with his friends. He was really at home in the small group, and if the cause merited it, he would not be slow to give a rendering of one of his favourite songs. He is fondly remembered for his many contributions at the annual teacher dinners in Westport, delighting in the musical accompaniment of his two very good friends, Basil Morahan and Martin Maguire. Ar dheis De go raibh siad go leir. On leaving Westport he was made an honourary life member of Westport Golf Club, as a token of appreciation for his work as a committee member over many years, an honour he much appreciated but seldom used. Many in Westport will remember him for his organising ability, his open friendly personality, his efforts in helping to organise street leagues in football, and of course, for his efforts in the class room. Teaching through role-play was a popular ploy of his. He delighted in recalling the occasion when a few students from his class arrived into school one morning with wool fleeces from McAleers at the Quay, for a dramatisation of the story of St. Patrick, as a little boy, tending his master's flocks on the slopes of Slemish, near the modern town of Ballymena. He enjoyed the exuberance of youth, a quality he possessed himself in large measure. He never gave less than his all on behalf of his pupils. We shall all sorely miss him. We pray that he now enjoys that fullness of Life,promised to those who persevere to the end. We pray also for his close family members and religious Brothers, and many close friends, that they may be comforted and consoled in their time of grief. Go raibh leaba aige i measc na naomh Courtesy of the Mayo News 18th May 2005 Tweet

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