'A special lady with a heart of gold'

Obituary 

The death occurred at UCHG Hospital on August 30 after a brief illness of Síle Ní Dhomhnaill (nee Mulroy), who was a teacher at the then two-teacher Tonragee NS, Achill, for nearly 20 years, and who was a native of Shraheens, Achill Sound. She later taught at Furbo NS in Galway for 23 years up to her retirement in 1997.

In his homily at the Funeral Mass in the local church, parish priest Fr Michael Brennan, who had known her well as a young curate in Furbo in the 70s, noted that “her name was Síle, but everyone knew her as Bean Ui Dhomhnaill”.

“She was born in Achill in 1936 and the family moved to Clifden when she was young. Between both places she had a happy, joyous childhood and loved those years with her family, her older sister Máire, brother Pádraig, and Evangeline, her youngest sister (still resident in Clifden). Síle was always very proud of her sisters and brother and how well they all got on in their family and professional lives.

“Síle was a bright student, who loved learning and reading throughout her whole life, and was happy in school, being taught by the nuns. Her dream was to be a teacher and her mother, Katherine (nee Kilbane) was so happy when Síle received her call to train in Mary I that she danced around the kitchen!

“Following the sudden passing of her father John, the family moved back to Achill, and when she finished at Mary I, she started teaching in Tonragee.

“She met her late husband, Micheál Ó Domhnaill, from Carraroe, who was one of the only men on the island with a car, which was perhaps just one of many reasons she fell for him…!

“They married in 1959 and began to welcome their children Seán, Micheál, Maíre, and Maitiú. Life was very busy for Síle, between rearing four children, teaching in the NS, and helping her husband with his various pursuits of beekeeping, tending to twelve Connemara ponies, and making honey.

“In 1974, the family moved to Na Forbacha. She was a much loved and highly respected teacher who was devoted to the children in her care ensuring all the children felt loved and were given every opportunity to learn and grow. She started Cór na bhForbacha in the church here and played the organ with a great children’s choir for many years and organised an chéad comaoineach for many years here in the church.

“Bhí creideamh láidir ag Síle i gcónaí and she has passed her faith on to her children. She was a woman who lived her faith…someone who walked the walk and treated others with dignity and kindness.

“Many have remarked that Síle was a great listener and a calming presence, rarely getting upset or angry, although she had some great one liners…she wasn’t one to mince her words. She was reserved and elegant, with a deep love for her family. She was a special lady with a heart of gold. Múinteoir den scoth agus bean speisialta.

“When her husband, Micheál, passed away 32 years ago, she continued to work and teach i Scoil na bhForbacha and managed her home life and sent her children to college.

“When grandchildren arrived and her family grew, she loved being with them, looking after them and they adored her. Her eleven grandchildren, Éanna, Gearóid, Aoibhín, Róisín, Eoin, Síle, Pádraic, Anna, David, Sofia, and Tommy all spent time with her and loved being in her company, as did her daughters-in-law Maria and Julie.

“As Sile aged and needed more assistance, Stephanie, a former pupil, looked after Síle lovingly and the two of them would often be heard laughing together in the chalet. The family would like to thank Stephanie for the love she showed their Mamó, along with the staff at Brampton Care home and the medical staff on the Corrib ward at UCHG. She fought until the end, with her family around her, and died peacefully in the end. Buíochas le Dia.” 

The funeral was large and representative on both days, with the choir led by Mary Horgan and made up of Síle’s past pupils and parents, no doubt making her very proud.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.