Remembering school’s first principal – a charitable man

EAMONN Tuohy, who was the first principal of Scoil Aonghusa in Tallaght and remained in that role for 18 years, has been remembered as an approachable and quietly charitable man.

Mr Tuohy passed away in Lisheen Springs Nursing Home in Rathcoole on October 27, at age 95, and the father-of-four was a popular educator in Tallaght for many decades.

He proudly hailed from Co Clare and trained as a teacher in St Pat’s in Drumcondra. His first teaching job was in Marino, and in 1950 he got a teaching job in St Mary’s NS in Tallaght village.

When the school separated into separate boys’ and girls’ schools in 1960, Mr Tuohy was appointed principal of the boys’ school.

In 1975 he began his defining and longest role in his teaching career, as principal of the newly opened Scoil Aonghusa.

“It was a brand-new school,” said Fr Ben Moran, the parish priest for St Aengus’s who had worked with Mr Tuohy on many occasions over the years.

“He went down to the new school with some of the staff and some of the boys from St Mary’s, because they lived closer to the new school.

“He was here with us from 1975 to 1993 – 18 years – and he was very involved in preparing children for their First Communion.

“He was also involved in the community project to make sure there were outings for children who might not have been able to have holidays.

“From his early days, he was very involved in St Vincent de Paul and he did a great deal of work in Fettercairn when that parish was set up.

“That’s an aspect of his life that a lot of people wouldn’t have known about, he didn’t wear it on his sleeve.”

Fr Moran added that a lot of people turned to Mr Tuohy, who lived in Rathfarnham, for advice as he was very friendly and approachable, and he also described him as “solid and reliable”.

“He was greatly treasured, and greatly loved,” said Fr Moran.

Eamonn Tuohy was predeceased by his wife Eithne and daughter Gabrielle, and is survived by his sons Dara, Eoin and Colm.

His funeral Mass was held in the Church of the Divine Word in Rathfarnham on October 30, followed by burial in Cruagh Cemetery, Rathfarnham.

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