Born: 11 October 1956, Oughterard, County Galway
Entered: 04 October 1975, Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin
Ordained: 20 June 1987, Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin
Final Vows: 24 January 1996, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin
Died: 07 January 2018, Gonzaga College SJ, Ranelagh, Dublin

Parents: Francis X O’Brien & Bridget E Newell

Family lived at San Martin, College Road, Galway City

Educated at Coláiste Iognáid SJ, Galway

by 1980 at Osterley, London (BRI) working
by 1981 at Manresa, Birmingham, England (BRI) studying)
BY 1988 at Cambridge MA, USA (NEN) studying

1977-1979 John Sullivan House, Monkstown - Studying Philosophy at Milltown Institute
1979-1980 Isleworth, London, UK - Residential Care work at Lillie Road Centre
1980-1982 Manresa House, Harbourne, Birmingham, UK - Studying Youth and Community Work at Westhill College
1982-1984 Coláiste Iognáid, Galway - Regency : Teacher
1984-1986 Luís Espinal - Studying Theology at Milltown Institute
1986-1987 Rutilio Grande - Studying Theology at Milltown Institute
1987-1988 Avon St, Cambridge, MA, USA - Studying Theology at Weston School of Theology
1988-1993 Coláiste Iognáid, Galway - Teacher; Chaplain; Subminister; Pastoral Care Co-ordinator; Studying H Dip in Education at UCG (88-89)
1989 President “An Club Rámhaoicht”
1993-1994 Belfast - Tertianship
1994-2001 Belvedere College SJ - Minister; Chaplain; Pastoral Care; Teacher; Social Integration Committee; Cherryfield Board
1995 Vocations Promotion Team
1996 Vice-Principal Junior School
1998 Pastoral Care Co-ordinator
2001-2018 Gonzaga College SJ - Minister; Teacher; College Spiritual Father

◆ Jesuits in Ireland : https://www.jesuit.ie/news/god-love-kennedys-mantra/

‘God is love’ – Kennedy’s mantra
The Funeral Mass of Kennedy O’Brien SJ took place at the Church of the Holy Name, Ranelagh, on Saturday 13 January before a packed congregation, with crowds outside in the cold. A native of Galway, Kennedy (aged 61) devoted his Jesuit life to teaching.
Mourners at the Mass included a large number of students from Gonzaga College SJ, where the Kennedy taught English and served as chaplain and retreat leader. The College choir provided the music, and a number of students removed the pall from the coffin. Irish Provincial, Leonard Moloney SJ, was the main celebrant.
At the end of a traumatic week for Gonzaga (with the deaths of both Kennedy and his fellow-Jesuit Joe Brennan, who had taught in the college for many years), Principal Mr Damon McCaul spoke at the Mass. “For me personally, he [Kennedy] was a friend, a confidant, a sounding board. What I really appreciated – and Kennedy was good at this – was being told when he thought things could be done better, or differently. In that, Kennedy was the embodiment of Magis [the Jesuit principle of more or greater]... a half job was never enough.”
With good humour, Mr McCaul reminded the congregation of Kennedy’s initial reluctance to come to Gonzaga. He taught in his alma mater, Coláiste Iognáid, in Galway and in Belvedere College in Dublin beforehand. However, he said of Kennedy: “He went where the need was greatest; he threw all of himself into Gonzaga, to such an extent that he loved it in spite of himself”. He then expressed his gratitude for the care and support the school had been given in recent days. Mr McCaul finished by asking the Gonzaga students to join him in reciting Kennedy’s favourite Gospel message, one he used to repeat at every College Mass: “God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him or her”. Kennedy had a wide range of hobbies and interests, including heraldry, gardening, rowing, cricket and the poetry of G M Hopkins. His popularity and regard as a priest was attested to by the number of weddings, baptisms and funerals at which he was asked to officiate. He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery following the Funeral Mass.

https://www.circ.ie/articles/7

Kennedy O'Brien S.J.
Jan 08, 2018

Fr Kennedy O Brien S.J. former highly successful Jes Rower, coach, mentor and Club President passed away peacefully on Sunday night / Monday morning.

Kennedy, who was part of the very successful 1974 crew, later went on to coach many crews and took on the role of club organiser for many years, while he taught at the Jes. He was at the club in recent times to bless our new eight in 2016. Kennedy had been teaching in Gonzaga College in Dublin.

Kennedy is a brother of Redmond and our sympathies are with Kennedy's brothers and sister, their families and the wider Jesuit community.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Removal on Friday, 12th January, to Gonzaga College Chapel arriving at 5pm.
Requiem Mass at 10am on Saturday 13th January in Church of the Holy Name, Beechwood Avenue, Ranelagh to Glasnevin Cemetery.

Tea and coffee etc. will be provided for mourners immediately after the Mass in the College Dining Hall at 11.

It is advisable to attend the church early possible on Saturday morning.

May he rest in peace.

Born: 06 May 1951, Coolbawn, Goatstown Road, Dundrum, Dublin, County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1970, Manresa, Dollymount, Dublin
Died: 08 September 2015, Goatstown, Dublin, County Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: 06 October 1976

Father was a doctor - Niall, RIP 1977. Mother was Sheila (Healy).

Eldest with two brothers and two sisters

Educated at Mount Anville (1956-1959); Gonzaga College SJ (1959-1963) and Belvedere College SJ, Dublin, (1963-1970)

Baptised at University Church, St Stephen’s Green, 11/05/1951
Confirmed at Holy Name, Beechwood Avenue, by Dr McQuaid of Dublin, 22/03/1963

1970-1972: Manresa House, Dollymount, Novitiate
1972-1973: Rathfarnham Castle, Juniorate
1973-1974: Milltown Park, Philosophy
1974-1976: Belvedere College SJ, Regency

Address 2000 & 1991: Gonzaga College SJ, Sandford Road, Dublin City

https://jesuit.ie/news/danny-mcnelis-rip-a-man-committed-to-service-and-living-life-fully/

Danny McNelis RIP: committed to service and living life fully

Daniel last Christmas learned that he had pancreatic cancer. It was a great shock and a severe blow to all the plans he had made for his retirement. He had even got a new artificial leg to enjoy his retirement more fully. The shortness of time that he probably faced forced him to live life ever more fully. Every day, every hour mattered. He tried everything to restore his health but his cancer proved to be very aggressive and made rapid inroads into his health. He still went sailing and cycled to the doctor for every appointment up to the last few months. As it dawned on him it was more likely he was going to die than to live, he surrendered to God, “Whatever is for your greater glory, not my will but Thy will be done!”

Even though he wanted to have more time with Bríd and see Áine and Niall blossom into full adults, he couldn’t deny that he had no fear of death, and that part of him was dying to see God and to meet people like Ignatius. He decided that his last mission would be to die well. He asked Mr McCaul, the headmaster in Gonzaga College, could he talk to the sixth years on what it is like to be dying. They were spellbound by his cheerfulness and his courage. He embraced each one as they left the room, many with a misty eye. He also chose to make a farewell speech at the staff dinner in May. Again he made a deep impression.

His final task, the last thing he had any control over, was his funeral Mass. He planned it meticiously as if it was his next class. He chose the readers, readings, psalm, hymns, the celebrants, a letter he wrote to Jesus on his last sixth year retreat and who was to read it. The final hymn he chose was ‘Sailing’ by Rod Stewart and it was particularly poignant. I don’t think anyone in the packed church was ever at a more beautiful and uplifting funeral. As a mark of respect the boys of Gonzaga College, past and present, lined the avenue on both sides, three deep, and clapped the cortège as it left the grounds.

Danny had loved every day of his life in Gonzaga, from being headmaster in the Junior school to pastoral director in the Senior school, thirty years in all. He was always cheerful, full of gratitude, deeply appreciative of each boy, knowing each by name, as he watched them with interest grow and develop from first year to sixth year. He never regretted the ten years he lived as a Jesuit, in fact he seemed to love Ignatius and his early companions more than many Jesuits! He loved the outdoor life, especially sailing, a hobby he passed onto the Transition Year students. He loved preparing the leaders for the Kairos retreat each year and that and the retreats with relish and thoroughness.

Danny was an avid Leinster rugby fan (no one is perfect!). He spent many years running the Children’s Mass in his Kilmacud parish. Above all, he lived for Jesus, the Scriptures, and especially the psalms. The following letter which he wrote to Jesus on his last retreat in October 2014 gives a flavour of his devotion to Jesus:-

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for reaching out to me, embracing me, caring for me, intervening for me, inspiring me.
Help me to be the man whom you wish me to be.
Inspire me with the passion of the great saints to be your presence in the world.Give to me the urgency and passionate conviction to serve you.
Make me realise and relax in my own goodness.
Help to to change from judging others to seeing them loved by you.
Help me progressively to reduce fretting and worrying and to live more completely in the present moment.
Find me a rewarded and rewarding role in which to serve you for your greater glory.
Your loving brother Daniel.

Finally the following prayer on his Mass card sums up Danny’s spirit.

Without exception, live every day of your life with gratitude. As you look in the mirror say, thank you God, for life, for my body, my family, my loved ones, for this day and for the opportunity to be of service. Thank you, thank you, thank you…

A few days before he died, I drew one of the last smiles from Danny’s face with the comment “Do you know Danny, there is one surprise you may get when you go to heaven, there might be more Munster supporters than you ever imagined!” Of course I almost forgot, he had a great sense of humour. May he rest in peace.

Myles O’Reilly SJ

Born: 16 May 1938, Carne Lodge, Cowper Gardens, Rathmines, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1956, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Died: 07 July 2024, Cherryfield Lodge, Milltown Park, Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: 25 June 1958

Father was a Supreme Court Judge and died in 1951.

Older of two boys.

Educated at a Convent school in Bray for three years, and then a further three at Willow Park, Blackrock, he then went to Clongowes Wood College Sj for six years.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/hugh-geoghegan-dublin-561762

The death has occurred of

Hugh GEOGHEGAN
Dublin
Peacefully. Beloved and loving husband of Mary, father of Caren, Sarah and James. Much loved also by his brother Ross, sons-in-law Kris and Bobby, daughter-in law Claire, his grandchildren Mary, Jane, Hugh, Eva, Harry, Laoise, Lila, Moya and Beth, sisters-in-law Suzanne, Joan, Ruth, Caroline and Geraldine, and brothers-in-law Tom, John and Liam, cousins, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.

Removal on Wednesday morning (July 10) to the Church of the Holy Name, Beechwood Avenue arriving for Funeral mass at 10.00 o’c followed by burial at Glasnevin Cemetery.Family flowers only.

Date Published:
Monday 8th July 2024

Date of Death:
Sunday 7th July 2024

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2024/07/08/retired-supreme-court-judge-hugh-geoghegan-dies-aged-86/

Retired Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan has died at the age of 86.

Mr Justice Geoghegan came from a family steeped in law. His father, James, was also a Supreme Court judge and in 1981 Mr Justice Geoghegan himself married another retired Supreme Court judge, Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan, also from a well-known legal family.

Mr Justice Geoghegan received his education at Clongowes Wood College, University College Dublin and the King’s Inns.

He was called to the Bar in 1962 and became a senior counsel in 1977, practising in Dublin and the Midland Circuit. He appeared as counsel before the tribunal into the Stardust fire disaster and chaired a commission that recommended the formation of the Labour Relations Commission.

He was appointed a judge of the High Court in 1992 and became a judge of the Supreme Court eight years later.

In an address to the International Prison Chaplains Conference in 2003, Mr Justice Geoghegan criticised media accusations of alleged “soft” sentencing of criminals and comparisons with the treatment of victims.

t was “an absurd idea that because a judge or other powers-that-be demonstrate concern for the rehabilitation of a criminal, they are thereby showing lack of respect or lack of concern for the victim”, he said.

The constant media contrasting of the two was the “most damaging and dangerous of all the errors that are made in an ill-thought-out public perception of the criminal system”, he said.

He said “victim impact and the distress caused to a victim are important factors in sentencing” but the potential of rehabilitating the offender so as to prevent future crimes was “equally important”.

“The one clear message that should be got across is that rehabilitation is always to the benefit of the public even more than it is to the benefit of the prisoner,” he said.

When he retired from the Supreme Court bench in 2010, senior counsel Michael Collins, the then chairman of the Bar Council, said “kindness” was the one word that summed up Mr Justice Geoghegan’s judicial and personal qualities. His judgments were infused with a deep sense of humanity and compassion, he said.

Mr Justice Geoghegan, who died on Sunday, is survived by his wife and three children – Fine Gael Councillor and Dublin Lord Mayor James Geoghegan; senior counsel Caren Geoghegan; and Sarah Geoghegan, a paediatrician.

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2024/july/death-of-retired-supreme-court-judge

etired Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan died yesterday (7 July) aged 86.

He died yesterday and is survived by his wife, retired Supreme Court judge Mrs Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan, and three children, Caren, Sarah and James, who is a Fine Gael Dublin City councillor.

Inner Bar
The deceased was called to the Bar in 1962 and to the Inner Bar in 1977, becming a High Court judge in 1992.

In 2000 he was appointed to the Supreme Court.

His removal will take place on Wednesday morning (July 10) to the Church of the Holy Name, Beechwood Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, for funeral Mass at 10 am. The funeral will be followed by burial at Glasnevin Cemetery.

'Learned and kind'
Justice minister Helen McEntee said: “It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of retired Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan.

“I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Judge Mary Finlay Geoghegan, to their family, Caren, Sarah and James, extended family and loved ones.

“Hugh Geoghegan was a very learned, kind and gentle man who served the State with huge distinction from his appointment to the High Court in 1992, going on to serve on the Supreme Court bench in 2000 until his retirement in 2010.

“I know he will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam dílis.”

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ca184-statement-by-minister-for-justice-helen-mcentee-td-on-death-of-retired-judge-hugh-geoghegan/

Statement by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, TD on death of retired judge Hugh Geoghegan
From Department of Justice

Published on 9 July 2024

Last updated on 9 July 2024

“It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of retired Supreme Court judge the Hon Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan.

"I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Judge Mary Finlay Geoghegan, to their family, Caren, Sarah, and James, extended family and loved ones.

"Hugh Geoghegan was a very learned, kind and gentle man who served the State with huge distinction from his appointment to the High Court in 1992, going on to serve on the Supreme Court bench in 2000 until his retirement in 2010.

"I know he will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

"Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam dílis.”

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2024/07/10/retired-supreme-court-judge-hugh-geoghegan-remembered-at-funeral-mass-as-man-of-boundless-curiosity/?

Retired Supreme Court judge Hugh Geoghegan remembered at funeral Mass as man ‘of boundless curiosity’
Congregation hears that judge’s ‘only regret in life’ was not having met his wife sooner

A retired Supreme Court judge, Hugh Geoghegan, was remembered as a loving husband and father, a loyal friend, and a man of “boundless curiosity” at his funeral Mass on Wednesday.

He died last Sunday aged 86.

At his 60th birthday celebration, her father said his only regret in life was that he had not met Mary, his wife of 43 years, sooner, senior counsel Caren Geoghegan said.

Her Dad was an “amazing father” who invented many stories and games for his three young children but, “rather than I spy, we were quizzed about the capital cities of the most obscure countries”.

No subject was off limits at family dinners and she recalled her father saying to her mother: “Mary, I will not be censored,” Ms Geoghegan said.

James Geoghegan, Fine Gael councillor and Dublin lord mayor, said the family were overwhelmed by the many tributes to his father emphasising his compassion and kindness.

His father was a man of “boundless curiosity” who was “obsessive” about current affairs. He recalled being in a car with a radio antennae stuck outside the window as his father tried to find out if the Belfast Agreement had been signed.

Above all, his father “absolutely adored Mum and loved his family”, he said. “Dad, in the fullest of health, was a permanent source of amusement and fun, he made us laugh so much, he adored conversation and controversy.”

Both siblings were speaking at a Mass of thanksgiving in Dublin for the judge. .

The chief celebrant was Fr Michael Sheil SJ, a lifelong friend of the late judge since they met as students of Clongowes Wood College.

His friend’s judgments had been described as “infused with humanity and compassion” which summed him up very well, Fr Sheil said. “He brought so much gentle happiness and laughter into people’s lives.”

The chief mourners were the judge’s wife Mary Finlay Geoghegan, also a retired Supreme Court judge, son James, daughters Caren and Sarah, brother Ross, and extended family including nine grandchildren.

President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Simon Harris were represented by their aides de camp.

Attorney General Rossa Fanning was among the packed congregation as were many serving and retired judges of the superior courts, including Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, Court of Appeal president George Birmingham and High Court president David Barniville.

Former chief justice Susan Denham and former High Court presidents Mary Irvine and Peter Kelly, many barristers and solicitors, and Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik also attended.

A native of Dublin, Hugh Geoghegan was called to the Bar in 1962 and became a senior counsel in 1977, practising in Dublin and the midlands circuit. He was appointed a judge of the High Court in 1992 and a judge of the Supreme Court eight years later.

Born: 01 July 1950, Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook, Dublin, County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1968, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Died 13 June 2018, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (Grosvenor Road, Rathmines, Dublin)

Left Society of Jesus: 20 February 1974 (from Rathfarnham Castle)

Father - Edward J, a Bank Official, and Mother Susan Finola (Fitzgibbon). Family lived in Drumcondra until Leslie aged 4. Mother suffered a number of bouts of sever depression.

One younger sister (Grace)

Educated at Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin

Baptised at St Mary’s Haddington Road, 10/07/1950
Confirmed at the Holy Name Beechwood Avenue, by Dr Dunne of Dublin, 09/03/1960

1968-1970: St Mary's, Emo, Novitiate
1970-1974: Rathfarnham Castle, Juniorate at UCD (MSc)

Address 2000 & 1991: Grosvenor Road, Rathmines, Dublin

https://www.fanagans.ie/death-notice/leslie-daly/63431

The death has occurred of

Leslie DALY

DALY, Leslie (Rathmines, Dublin 6) – June 13, 2018 (peacefully) in the tender care of the ICU staff at Beaumont Hospital. Beloved husband of Anne (Dodd), loving father of Erika and Selena. Sadly missed by his wife, daughters, sister Grace, sons-in-law Liam FitzGerald and Andrea Ballatore, grandchildren Iseult and Hugh, brothers-in-law Stephen and Finian, sister-in-law Mary, nieces, nephews, and friends and colleagues at University College Dublin.

https://www.ucd.ie/chas/newsandevents/commemoratingprofessorlesliedaly/

Commemorating Professor Leslie Daly

It is with deep sadness and regret that we share the passing of adjunct Professor of Epidemiology and Biomedical Statistics, Leslie Daly, on 13th June 2018.

Professor Daly joined the academic faculty at UCD in 1976 as a Lecturer in the original Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. He was appointed to Senior Lecturer in 1987, to Associate Professor in 1997 and to a full professorship in 2005. For over 40 years – first at Earlsfort Terrace and then in Belfield – Leslie was embedded in the UCD community both in his own discipline and beyond. Though he was based in the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, he also sat on Academic Council and numerous other university committees. He was chairman of UCD Press and a founding member of CSTAR, the Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research.

His contribution to public health and epidemiological research in Ireland was immense and he had an international reputation in adult chronic diseases and their causes. He was a very highly cited investigator with well over four hundred publications, many in major medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and BMJ. He was the author of a highly influential textbook, Interpretation and Uses of Medical Statistics, published by John Wiley & Sons. Leslie retired in July 2015 but was appointed as Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology and Biomedical Statistics and continued working with CSTAR and on his research activities.

Outside UCD Leslie provided key support to the examinations committee of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal College of Physicians in Ireland; his contribution was recognised in 2012 when he was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty. Leslie was also a seminal contributor from the very early days of what is now the Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion in St Vincent’s University Hospital, when it was a Department of Preventive Cardiology. He provided input to the work programmes and particularly the ground-breaking epidemiological and health promotion research output of this Department over three decades.

Leslie touched many throughout his time at UCD. He was described by those who knew him as warm and supportive to colleagues and students alike, with a great sense of humour, who will be very fondly remembered. Leslie was truly a giant of the UCD academic community and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Our sincere condolences go to Anne, Erika, Selena and all his family.

Born: 13 November 1929, Bartra, Dalkey, County Dublin
Entered: 15 September 1948, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 31 July 1962, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 02 February 1981, Gozaga College SJ, Dublin
Died: 08 January 2018, St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin

Part of the Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin community at the time of death.

Younger Brother of Jack Brennan SJ - RIP 2002; Gabriel Brennan - Left1945; Older Brother of Harry Brennan - Left 1950

Son of Joseph Brennan and Margerita Ryan. Father was manager of a number of insurance and finance companies.

Sixth of 9 boys (1 deceased) with two sisters.

Early education was at Sacred Heart Leeson Street for three years and two at Coláiste na Rinne in Waterford. He then went to Belvedere College SJ for six years.

by 1966 at Brussels Belgium (BEL M) studying

◆ Irish Jesuit Missions : https://www.jesuit.ie/news/he-was-a-good-man/

‘He was a good man’
Jesuits, family, friends and colleagues of Joe Brennan SJ, packed the Church of the Holy Name in Beechwood Avenue to bid him a fond farewell at his funeral Mass, on Friday 12 January, 11am. They were joined by the staff and students of Gonzaga College. John O’Keeffe SJ presided at the Mass, and Myles O’Reilly SJ, a former superior of the Gonzaga Community that Joe was a member of for 43 years, gave the homily. Joe had taken ill in late December and was moved to St Vincent’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with a respiratory illness. He died peacefully on the morning of January 8th 2018, aged 88.
Fr Joe was born and raised in Dublin, and he joined the Jesuits in 1948 at the age of 18. He was a keen sportsman, playing inter-provincial rugby for Leinster. He was also an accomplished musician, particularly on the piano, so he would have appreciated the singing of the Gonzaga student choir at his funeral Mass.
Most of his Jesuit life was spent as a teacher of religion and philosophy. He taught in Mungret, Clongowes, Belvedere, and finally Gonzaga. Brian Flannery, Education Delegate, said Joe had been fully engaged with Gonzaga in one way or another right up to the time of his illness in late December. “He was known for always encouraging students to think for themselves,” said Brian; “Also for instilling values. ‘If you don’t stand for something,’ he loved to say, ‘you will fall for anything.'”
Fr Joe had a few such sayings that he was famous for repeating, and the school had them printed on the back of his funeral Mass booklet. “Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved”, he would say. Or, “Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement.” And he would remind the students, “Faith is not against reason, it’s beyond it.”
In his homily, Fr Myles O’Reilly referred to the first reading from Isaiah and the banquet the Lord prepares for His trusted servants. He spoke of the many years of faithful service Joe had given as a follower of Jesus. He had served his fellow Jesuits, his students and his family, all with great generosity and wisdom. It was his turn now to be served and take part in the banquet prepared for him, as promised by the prophet Isaiah, said Myles.
Joe’s many nieces and nephews also attended the Mass. One of them, Ross Brennan, paid a warm tribute to their uncle at the end of the service. He spoke of how loved Joe was by his extended family, of the kindness he always showed, and of the help he always gave to them.
The funeral Mass preceded that of his fellow-Jesuit Kennedy O’Brien, also a teacher in Gonzaga, who had died suddenly, earlier that week. The principal of Gonzaga, Damon McCaul said that it had been a very difficult week for the staff and students in the school. He said that Fr Joe had made such an impact on his students that older past pupils still remembered him with deep regard and gratitude. “And it’s the same with Kennedy for a new generation of pupils and past pupils. Both men were outstanding teachers and educators.”
The final word on Fr Joe was a simple line in the funeral Mass booklet, underneath a photo of him saying Mass in Gonzaga: ‘He was a good man’.

Early Education at Sacred Heart, Leeson St, Dublin, Ring College, Waterford & Belvedere College SJ, Dublin
1950-1953 Rathfarnham - Studying Arts at UCD
1953-1956 Tullabeg - Studying Philosophy
1956-1959 Mungret College SJ - Regency : Teacher
1959-1963 Milltown Park - Studying Theology
1963-1964 Rathfarnham - Tertianship
1964-1965 Trier, Germany - Liturgy Studies at Benediktiner Abtei St Mathias
1965-1966 Brussels, Belgium - Catechetics Studies at Lumen Vitae
1966-1968 Clongowes Wood College SJ - Teacher; Prefect; Lecturer in Catechetics at Milltown Park
1968-1969 Belvedere College SJ - Teacher; Musical Director; Lecturer in Catechetics at Milltown Park
1969-1974 Mungret College SJ - Teacher; Gamesmaster
1974-2018 Gonzaga College SJ - Teacher; Lecturer in Catechetics at Milltown Park
1983 Rector; Director of Pastoral Care
2010 Chaplain at Marlay Nursing Home, Dublin; Assistant Treasurer; Teacher of Religion
2014 Ceased Teaching