Kathy Martin passed away on Easter Sunday 23rd March at South Tipperary General Hospital,Clonmel. When the severity of her illness became known we were saddened to realize that this lovely lady would not be with us for long more. We were not however ready to say our farewells so soon.

Kathy was born on the 5th August 1937, the youngest of a family of 11 (8 boys & 3 girls) to Kathy & Michael O’Connell, “The Found” (Mardyke), Killenaule. She attended National School in “The Found” and later in Ballynonty. Her secondary education was in the Presentation Convent, Ballingarry where she was a boarder for 5 years.

She attended teacher training in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and qualified 1958. Kathy was appointed to the Commons N.S by Fr.Michael Lee P.P on the recommendation of the Presentation Sisters. She commenced teaching there in October 1958. Dan O’Connor was Principal and also teaching there were Kitty Norton and Sheila O’Connor.

Kathy first met Bill in The Commons when he was on a visit to the school in an official capacity as the local Garda. Love blossomed and they were married in 1963. They were blessed with five children : Paul, Fiona, Damien, Niamh and Ambrose and six grandchildren : Saoirse, Dara, Aran, Evan, Maddy & Liam.

Kathy continued teaching in the Commons for 27 years and then moved to Ballingarry National School in 1985 where Don Byard was Principal. Two years later Kathy became Principal and held that post until her retirement in 1996. On the teaching staff during that period were Maura Moloney, Roseann Corcoran, Caroline Butler, Mae O’Brien, Sr. Perptua, Sr. Ailish and Sr. Nano.

At her funeral mass Maura Moloney said “in her professional life Kathy was the essence of a good teacher – dedicated, kind, sincere and with a genuine love of children. As principal teacher she was an excellent leader and encouraged diligence in her staff. She was a true mentor to her fellow teachers. With Kathy a very special connection of friendship developed and continued as they and she moved on to teach in other schools”. She had a great interest in her students and was always in touch with the progress of her past pupils as they moved on in life. She had a great love of the Irish language and taught various subjects through Irish and that love of Gaeilge never waned even in retirement.

Kathy was an avid reader and sports fan. She was Secretary of Ballingarry Juvenile GAA for 10 years and loved attending all the games. She especially enjoyed the observations on the players delivered very eloquently by some members of her backroom team. Her sporting heroes were her nephew Donie O’Connell, Ole Gunner-Solskjaer, Manchester United and the great Kerry football team of the 70’s / 80’s. Her dad – Michael was a native of Ardfert, hence her love of Kerry. For many years Kathy was a member of Mardyke Macra Club and took part in Field evenings, Drama, Question time and Debates. She loved dancing, house dances were very popular around “The Found” with great music by Pat Lyons (accordion), Jimmy Glasheen (fiddle) and Mickey Fitzgerald (banjo). Sets would be danced well into the night.

When Kathy came to live in Glengall the music and the setdancing continued. Kathy enjoyed holidaying in Killarney, Connemara and Donegal. Her first visit to New York was in 1979. At that time she had four brothers – John, Richie, James and Ambrose and one sister- Mamie living there. She made that trip many times since ’79, her last visit in February this year really confirmed to all of us her courage and determination in spite of being unwell she wanted to see her sons – Paul & Damien, daughters in-law – Jennifer & Michelle, grandchildren, her brothers and their families.

Shortly after returning from New York it was confirmed that she had a very serious illness. The Doctors & Nurses at South Tipperary General Hospital looked after her in a very caring and professional manner. She died peacefully in the company of her husband Bill and her family on Easter Sunday. Kathy had great faith and accepted fully whatever the Lord had laid out for her and was totally at peace with her illness and with dying.

The esteem in which Kathy and her family are held was demonstrated by the huge numbers that attended the wake, removal and burial. On Tuesday night Fr. Tom Breen spoke of Kathy’s contribution to the parish as a Teacher for 40 years and for giving herself generously to many parish activities throughout her life. On Wednesday at a beautiful and moving funeral mass Fr. Padraig Corbett in his homily said “ on the day of Kathy’s graduation the college principle would have said – commit yourselves to your pupils as you will have the great privilege of educating them for their future lives, preparing them in later years to go out into the world so that they can make their contribution to the society that they will be living in. This is what Kathy did for close on 40 years in Ballingarry parish. She had a great belief in her God and every day she would do her best to know him, love him and serve him here in this life so that she would be with him for ever in heaven”.

Kathy’s grandaughter Saoirse played “The Swan” on cello. Maura Moloney in her address in honour of Kathy said “Kathy was supportive, wise, generous, endearing, kind, giving and fun to be with. In essence Kathy was a Lady”
Fiona read Kathy’s song ‘Love Me’ “If you get there before I do Don't give up on me I'll meet you when my chores are through I don't know how long I'll be” Catriona Clutterbuck sang ‘Bring Flowers of the Rarest’- one of Kathy’s favourite hymns.

Bring flowers of the rarest, bring blossoms the fairest,
From garden and woodland and hillside and dale;
Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest flower of the vale.

Kathy’s brother Ambrose recited ‘ The Two Sculptors’

‘ I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child’s mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher : the tools she used
Were books and music and art;
One was a parent with a guiding hand
And a gentle, loving heart.
Day after day the teacher toiled
With touch that was deft and sure
While the parent laboured by her side
And polished and smoothed it o’er.
And when at last their task was done
They were proud of what they had wrought,
For the things they had moulded into the child
Could neither be sold nor bought
And each agreed they would have failed
If they had worked alone,
For behind the parent stood the school
And behind the teacher, the home’.

Paul on behalf of his Dad and the family thanked everyone for the wonderful tribute paid to his Mother over the past few very difficult days. He thanked his uncles, aunts and cousins who had travelled from California, New York, New Jersey, England and many parts of Ireland for their love and support. He thanked organist – Teresa O’Byrne and the Church choir. Thanked all their wonderful neighbours and friends for their generosity and friendship. He said they were blessed to have a very special Mum and friend in Kathy and they will always love her and miss her.

Kathy was laid to rest Ballinalacken Cemetery. Kathy we were honoured to have you as a friend, we will miss you. We know you will continue to look out for Bill and the family you loved so much.