Patricia (Patsy) Kinsella:PATRICIA Kinsella, born in Dublin in 1923, was known as Pat to her family and Patsy to her colleagues in the staff room; but for generations of her pupils at Dominican College, Muckross Park, she was simply "Miss Kinsella". Her name was synonymous with the school where she taught for 38 years, becoming its first lay vice-principal.
Patsy Kinsella had been retired for 21 years by the time she died on January 4th this year, yet there was a guard of honour of present-day Muckross pupils at her funeral. In their green and black uniforms they stood with dignity to say farewell to someone they had never personally known, but who was so respected in the annals of the school that it was fitting they were there. And inside, the church was filled with past pupils, former colleagues and Patsy’s many friends.
Miss Kinsella taught Irish and English. She organised debates, plays and trips. There was a school trip to London on the mail-boat and tea in “Derry Tom’s”, to which she treated her pupils. She travelled widely, often alone, in days when this was unusual for a single woman, and brought tales of her adventures back to the classroom.
She was an excellent teacher, but it was not what Miss Kinsella taught that remains uppermost in the mind, but how she was as a person. She showed respect and got it in return. She encouraged independent thought in an era when girls were not encouraged to express their opinions and she prepared us well for a time – which was much closer than she might have expected – when women began to play a far greater role in Irish public life.
There was no subject barred from discussion. “Now, girls. . .” she would begin, and whatever issue in the public domain, or in the school corridors, was of concern to us – no matter how contentious – would be aired.
She embodied everything she conveyed. She was loyal, utterly fair and unobtrusively generous. She had a great sense of humour, a caustic tongue at times, and a way of cutting through insincerity, sentimentality and sheer nonsense. She was a straight talker and expected no less from others.
The Dominican motto is Veritas: she manifested this, not by preaching about it, simply by living it. There was no obvious piety, just good practice.
She had strong feelings about things and her students soon learnt what they were. They ranged from love of the Irish language to disliking trouser suits to never lending money to a friend!
Her first and greatest love was for her family: her sister Joan, her brother Father Nivard, her nieces and nephews, her grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was the most devoted aunt and great-aunt.
They will rejoice in the many wonderful memories. Her colleagues and friends will recall her with great fondness.
A good teacher leaves an extraordinary legacy: she or he influences thousands of young lives. The virtues transmitted by Patsy Kinsella – fairness, integrity, compassion, friendship and truth – never die.
AT