The news of the sudden passing of Seamus Falvey last evening has come as a great shock to many in the community in Castleisland and its hinterland.
As principal of St. Joseph’s Presentation Girls’ Secondary School from 2000 to 2012 the late Mr. Falvey would have been in regular contact with members of the wider community here.
This contact would have come through the regular school activity through parent teacher meetings and so on.
However, the schools also enjoyed a golden period of sporting achievement in both Basketball and Gaelic Football under his management. This involved players from all the neighbouring parishes and villages in the school’s natural catchment area.
With his PE teacher, John Enright and their various teams over the years, they knew every school basketball court in the country. Likewise with his football coach, Stephen Murphy and his panel, they travelled many roads together.
Much and all as he enjoyed the basketball successes – and they were many – the All-Ireland Junior B Football Title win over Largy College, Monaghan in Offaly in 2005 was his crowning glory.
The cloud of his son, Jimmy’s untimely passing enveloped his final years at St. Joseph’s in sadness. It was a burden he shouldered bravely as he carried out his duty to his school to the last day.
His interest in the welfare and progress of his former pupils was well borne out when he appeared on the pitch in Corofin in Clare to greet many of them as they celebrated winning the All-Ireland Intermediate Football title last November.
He was a facilitator for anything good that was going on in the school and he gave the pupils free rein when it came to raising funds for charities.
I remember asking a couple of pupils, while we were waiting to take a photograph one day, who was their favourite in the school.
I was told to look in ‘Rate My Teacher’ and I did. I don’t know how teachers feel about this but I suppose it’s all part of the world we’re growing into daily.
A selection of the comments on RMT: “Nicest principal and v. fair. v sound, down to earth, listens to u.” “Sound out! gets involved! prefers football over basketball! gr8 4 gettin new gear! always der 2 help!!! “Nicest principal students could ask for. Is totally down to earth amd treats every student the same.”
The worst any of the commenting pupils had to say about him was that he totted up her exam results incorrently.
I could go on and on with instances of his character and they would all boil down to the fact that Seamus Falvey was a gentleman. The sympathies of hill and valley here go to his wife, Maria and their family. May God be Good to him.
©The Maine Valley Post 27-6-2015
Funeral Arrangements
The announcement and the arrangements for the funeral of late Séamus Falvey reads as follows:
The death has occurred of Seamus Falvey, Curragh, Aghadoe, Killarney and formerly of Batterfield, Firies, Killarney, Kerry
Beloved father of the late Jimmy, and loving husband of Maria. Very sadly missed and dearly loved by his family, children Jerry, Gobnait, Michael, John & Brendan their partners Linda, Lorraine and Chris, grandchildren Dylan, Matthew and Faela sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís”
Reposing at his family home, Curragh, Aghadoe, Killarney on Sunday evening from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm. Private Removal on Tuesday at 1.00 pm for Requiem Mass on Tuesday at 2.00 pm in Fossa Parish Church, burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery, Killarney
Date Published: Saturday 27th June 2015. Date of Death: Friday 26th June 2015
