Sadness as former principal of Limerick school dies in Africa

A LITTLE piece of Adare has died with the passing of Br Liam Mullally.

The Christian Brother was principal of St Joseph’s Boys Primary School, Adare, in the early 1980s for six years. It was coming to the end of the era when Christian Brothers resided and taught in the village. The monastery closed in the mid-nineties.

As well as being principal, Br Mullally was also superior of the Christian Brother community in Adare. The monastery building, which holds a prominent place in the village, was built in the 1830s as a fever hospital.

Br Mullally, aged 76, who was originally from Drimnagh in Dublin, was laid to rest last month in Kimberley, South Africa. He had cancer.

Many from the Adare area will remember him from the 1980s. Br Mullally also served in Clonmel, Carlow, Tramore, Drimnagh Castle, Lismore and, finally, Kimberley in South Africa. It was here he spent the last two decades years working with the poor and oppressed.

Fellow Christian Brother, John Holden said for 20 years Br Mullally consistently and unselfishly served youth who were at risk of ending up on the streets, or getting caught in a cycle of criminal activity and prison.

“Liam and his assistants aimed to reduce the risk by providing them with a bridging education so they could be reintegrated into the ordinary school system. Many accomplished that.

“The older ones, who would not re-enter the normal school system, were supported by the local colleges, where they learned manual skills such as bricklaying, welding and plumbing.

“Other helpful components of the program included street ministry, prison visitation and a feeding program,” said Br Holden.

Every morning at 5am Br Mullally and his team walked the impoverished streets of Kimberley to give hot coffee and bread to the street kids. Whether it was Adare or Kimberley, Br Mullaly had the ability to connect with youngsters.

May he rest in peace.