Image source: RIP.ie
Warm and emotional tributes have been paid to the late Robert (Robbie) O’Brien who was a popular and hugely respected member of the teaching staff in St Brendan’s College in Killarney for 34 years.
Remembered, in particular, as a wonderful history teacher, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject and a real passion for sharing that knowledge and wisdom with countless students down through the years.
Robbie, who was 82, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday and was laid to rest in Aghadoe Cemetery this Saturday, following Requiem Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral.
Robbie was born in New Street and reared on New Road before he and his wife, Noreen, made their own home on Lewis Road and, in latter years, in Lackabane Village in Fossa.
After graduating from college, Robbie first taught in Dublin and in Castleisland before he joined the staff at his alma mater, The Sem, in 1971.
That was the beginning of a wonderful teaching career and he continued sharing his vast knowledge right up to his retirement in the early 2000s.
Very much ahead of their time, Robbie and his colleague, the late PJ Luddy, spearheaded an innovative travel and tourism module in the school, guiding senior pupils in a very practical and creative project in partnership with leading tourism professionals and companies. That initiative was groundbreaking in many ways and it created so many opportunities in life for many of the students involved.
In addition to his skills as a teacher, Robbie was also a top class GAA coach and, with the likes of Fr Jim Kennelly and Fr Larry Kelly, he trained and guided several St Brendan’s teams, winning the Munster Colleges’ SFC (Corn Uí Mhuire) title in 1986.
In his own playing days, he lined out with Killarney Legion and members of his family are maintaining that involvement to the current day with daughters, Noelle and Lara, very involved in the club and a number of his grandchildren wearing the green and white.
Although he adored his native Killarney, Robbie loved overseas travel and enjoyed nothing more in life than visiting historic sights and places of great significance in cities around the world, with the culture-rich city of Rome a particular favourite destination.
At his Requiem Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral – just a stone’s throw from where Robbie spent his student and teaching life – chief celebrant, Fr Joe Begley, recalled his good nature and how he touched the lives and the hearts of so many people during his lifetime.
Fr Begley – a former teaching colleague in The Sem – said Robbie was always keen on learning and he recalled a highly unusual photograph that appeared in a newspaper some years ago of a father and a daughter graduating from college on the same day. That was Robbie and his daughter, Lara, who both secured law degrees from UCC at the same time.
He said Robbie, above all else, was a wonderful family man who loved his children, his grandchildren and, of course, his wife Noreen who had been his constant companion and was by his side for over 50 years.
Fr Begley said, even during his illness, Robbie always remained positive and displayed great dignity, grace and patience.
“Some people die with their music still with them, with their songs unsung and their stories untold. Robbie, during your lifetime, your song was sung, your music was heard and your story was told, in so many ways,” said Fr Begley.
“We heard them. We loved them. We now miss them, as you leave us but we will never forget you,” said the celebrant who was joined on the altar by Bishop emeritus Dr Bill Murphy, Monsignor Dan O’Riordan, Canon Tom Looney, Fr Jim Kennelly, Fr Pat O’Donnell and Fr Paddy O’Donoghue.
Fr Begley said Robbie O’Brien passed on some very important lessons for life and for living, great values and principles that helped others to be loyal and honest and to have so many other great qualities.
Symbols brought to the altar to reflect Robbie’s life included a football to mark his love of sports, a World War 1 book to celebrate his passion for history, a Dolores Keane CD to remember his love of music and his favourite dressing gown.
Predeceased by his brother Noel, Robbie is survived by his wife, Noreen, daughters, Noelle and Lara, grandchildren David, Kate, Lauren, Millie, Briain, Darragh, Erin and Charlie Mae, sons-in-law Liam O’Toole and Shane MacSweeney, sisters Sr Margaret and Mary Ann, brothers Seán and Kieran, many other relatives, friends and neighbours and his former work colleagues in St Brendan’s College, Killarney.
