The Patrician Congregation is mourning one of “nature’s finest gentlemen,” the late Brother Fidelis James O’Connell.
Associated with St Joseph’s College, Nuns’ Island for almost 30 years, he died at the Patrician Brothers’ residence at Kingston in the early hours of Monday March 2.
Born in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, Seamus, as he was known to his family, entered the Patrician Novitiate at Tullow, Co Carlow, on August 14 1953 and was professed the following year. Following matriculation he took a BA at UCG in 1957 and the higher diploma in education a year later.
For a decade thereafter he taught mathematics and geography at St Joseph’s before going as one of the pioneer community to open the Patrician College at Finglas West, Dublin 11. He remained there until August 1969 when he transferred to the congregation’s juniorate at Tullow.
A two-year term at Ballyfin was succeeded by 12 years at Finglas before a return to Galway in 1986 where he remained until retirement. He was a superior at Tullow, Finglas and Galway and for 10 years held the post of community bursar in Galway.
A keen advocate of sporting activities, he was especially interested in hurling, Gaelic football and schools’ rowing. He had a fine singing voice and his bubbling good humour made him the life and soul of any celebratory gathering. Remarkably kind, compassionate and hospitable in community and school he made legions of friends everywhere. In his passing the Patrician congregation has lost one of nature’s finest gentlemen.
He is survived by his brothers Tommy (Kilcullen ) and Brendan (Sydney ), by his sisters-in-law Anne and Mary, by nephews and nieces in Ireland, England and Australia.
Suaimhneas siorrai da anam uasal.
