Nioclas had a very keen interest in the education of disadvantaged children. He took a prominent part in the founding and development of two important educational services - the Visiting Teachers for the Deaf and the Visiting Teachers for Travelling Children. He also did much good work in improving educational facilities for visually impaired children. He greatly valued his colleagues in the Primary School Inspectorate, the many dedicated and devoted teachers he met during the course of his career and the staff of the Department of Education. He maintained contact with them until the very end. His ready wit and impish sense of humour endeared him to all.
He was appointed Inspector for the newly established European Schools in 1973 and did invaluable work in their development. He had a great love of languages and was particularly proficient in French, German and Italian. He combined an incredible "gra" for books and learning with a wonderful zeal and gift for teaching. On his retirement from the Department of Education he opened what he fondly referred to as his own "scoil scairte". He taught students of all ages and abilities and his strong forte was in the teaching of Irish, Mathematics, European Languages and Business Studies. He believed strongly in the Irish proverb "Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si" and delighted in seeing his pupils develop and prosper. He also enjoyed very much the years he spent as lecturer and supervisor in the education department of Trinity College where he worked closely with his good friends, Professor Val Rice and the late Dan Murphy.
He had a deep, abiding interest in Gaelic football and was fiercely loyal to his native kingdom. He took great pride in the county's great achievements in the All-Ireland Championships and particularly in the prowess of footballers from his own areas such as Sean, Padraig and Seamus Murphy in the 1950s and 1960s and prior to that Paddy Kennedy and Charlie O'Sullivan. His cousin and confidant, P.J. Butler, kept him fully informed on a weekly basis of GAA matters in the kingdom.
Nioclas was a deeply spiritual man and gave freely of his time to parochial work in his own parish of Foxrock and to charitable organisations. He was first and foremost, however, a deeply caring and generous husband and father. He is very sadly missed by his beloved wife, Philomena and by his talented family of four daughter and one son. Corinne and Oona continue his good work as teachers, Michele is a general practitioner in medicine, Gary practises as a solicitor and lecturer in law while Naomi, who trained as a national school teacher, is now a member of the Garda Siochana. Nioclas is also survived by his two sisters - Sister Brendan Marie in Reading and Mary Katherine (Billy) in London.
B. O C.