The community of Mitchelstown has been left in mourning following the sad passing of Niall A Ó Donnchadha (O'Donoghue) on Friday last, October 10.

Niall who was a former Principal in St Fanahan's College, Mitchelstown was described by those who knew him as a man who was passionate about education, was dedicated to his teaching career and who also garnered great respect from those who worked with him.

A native of Bandon, Niall was appointed to St Fanahan's College in 1970 and was appointed Acting Principal in 1976 and as Principal in 1983.

He was in St Fanahan's until 2004 and will be sadly missed by students and staff, both past and present in St Fanahan's College. Those in the school described him as being a very dedicated man who had great passion and committment to education.

His former colleagues said that he was a passionate advocate of the Irish language and subscribed to the wisdom found in the works of William Shakespeare.

While in Mitchelstown, he was an active member of Mitchelstown GAA and he facilitated the development of sports in the school.

He was also interested in drama, sports and bridge and was so committed to St Fanahan's College that he often spent Saturday's there.

Noel Sheehan was Deputy Principal for about 20 years with Niall and would have had a very good working relationship with him.

"One of the things that would strike you about Niall was his love for the vocational system and he believed in the merits of it.

"He really saw St Fanahan's as his school and was very proud of that fact," Noel recalled.

Niall was also very conscious of getting the best for the Mitchelstown school by way of grants and advancements and he was also very open to taking on new ideas and developments that would bring the school into the future.

"He was a larger than life figure," Noel added.

Niall passed away suddenly at his residence in Castlemaine in Kerry on Friday last and he is sadly missed by his partner Sheila, sons Brian, Darragh and Odhran, daughters Clodagh (Peters), Niamh, Grainne (Burness), Cliona (Hurley) and their mother Catherine, brothers Breanndán and Diarmuid, sisters Íde and Eibhlín, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces & nephews, relatives and friends.

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