Profound sadness at the passing of a former Clonmel High School teacher

A man who devoted his entire teaching career to students attending Clonmel High School, Pierce Purcell, has passed away.

The former ASTI President started his teaching career in Clonmel in 1962 and he retired in 2000.He joined the High School staff on the same day as Tom Ambrose and their lay teaching colleagues at the time were Paddy O’Hara, Pierce Durong, and Oliver Doyle.

In an interview with The Nationalist in 2025 Pierce Purcell spoke about his career and about some of the changes that had taken place during his career.

“When the Brothers left Clonmel, I think they accepted that their time was up. Vocations were way down, and the socio-political influence of the Catholic church was declining the whole time. I think one of the most important developments over the years was the introduction of Transition Year because it gave young lads a sense of the real world and some idea of what they might like to do after school,” he said.

“My job in the High School was always interesting and I was very happy to stay there for all of my teaching career. I have nothing but good memories of the High School,” said Pierce.

Pierce, who lived with his family at Davis Terrace Clonmel, was originally from Wicklow Town.

Pierce passed away peacefully in the care of the wonderful staff of Sonas Melview Nursing Home on Wednesday morning in the presence of his loving family.

Beloved husband of Maureen and loving father to Ruth, Andrew, Rachel and Ian he will be sadly missed by his loving family, grandchildren Alice, Fergus, Tiarnan, Iseult, Ferdia, Grace, Lucy, Adam, Heidi and Wendy, sister Min (Heinemeier), son-in-law Mike, daughters-in-law Imelda and Áine, brothers-in-law Jan, Seamus, Brian and Robbie, sister-in-law Pat, nephew Nicky, niece Katja, extended family and all his friends and former colleagues in education, Clonmel Athletic Club and St Mary’s Choral Society.

Reposing at Condons Funeral Parlour, Clonmel on Tuesday from 4.30pm to 7.00pm. Removal on Wednesday to the Island Crematorium, Cork for cremation ceremony.