Nurturing our Memories - by Fr Pat O'Shea

Nurturing our Memories - by Fr Pat O'Shea, Lower Hutt

 

Recently there was an article on the BBC website by Claudia Hammond on how covid and resultant lockdowns were affecting people’s memories. The fact that many people were not getting out and about to different places and meeting a variety of people meant that the stimulation that helps create and trigger memories was greatly reduced. It seems that days with little variation or excitement combined with a high level of anxiety about the pandemic and its impacts, meant people were more inclined to forget things.

Reading this article has prompted me to write something in remembrance of Br Tom McDonnel, who died recently, so that I could treasure and nurture my memories of him. I was able to tap into the live streaming of the funeral of my former teacher and family friend. With covid restrictions in place the number allowed to attend were much reduced. There were just some family members and Christian Brothers present.  It was hard to take in that this was Br Mac’s funeral as in other circumstances it would have been packed with people.

Essay written by Pat Dunne on Br Mac

This would have included past pupils of the various schools where he taught, including Trim CBS where he taught me. Br Mac was an excellent teacher, renowned for his look which conveyed something like “I am disappointed in you and know that you are better than that”.  One look from Mac was enough not only to keep us in line but also to ensure that we did our best. We did not want to get that look again. He coached us in Gaelic Football and got us involved in Irish dancing. As an experienced coach he could immediately see where we were making mistakes and show us how to correct them.  He also had a knack for pairing people up so that most of the group experienced the thrill of winning at one time or another. One of my classmates in Trim, Pat Dunne, wrote an essay on Br. Mac in the early 1960’s under the heading of “A Character I would like to Imitate”. I still have a copy of that essay which reminded me that Mac also was instrumental in helping produce musicals at the school even though as Pat says he was “a crow with two left feet”.  

His funeral would also have drawn many of his GGA connections – officials, coaches, and players from school teams he had coached. He wrote a coaching manual himself in the mid 60’s and was a sector for a while with the Dublin minor team. He rarely missed All Ireland Championship games and I was fortunate to have attended many big games with him in Croke Park. He was instrumental in assisting Jim Stynes to go and play AFL in Australia and sustained a strong connection with the Melbourne Football Club. I imagine that there would have been a strong GAA presence at his funeral if things were different.

Mac also was something of an entrepreneur and had a real knack of helping people raise money for good causes – like getting computers and other essential equipment for schools. It was noted in the eulogy that he continued to find ways to support the school in Derry long after he left there.  In his wide circle of past pupils, who were in a variety of jobs in different parts of the world, he found many willing supporters.  No doubt some of those he helped would have attended his funeral if they could.

I remember him telling me how he got one of his last roles.  After a visit to the grave of one of the brothers, he reported to the superior that it was in a shameful state. When he suggested that something should be done the superior asked him to take on the job of seeing to the proper upkeep of the graves.  He did this job with the same wholehearted commitment and energy he brought to all his other roles.

Now his body lies in one of those graves, but our faith reminds us that the souls of the just are in the hands of God. Mac will also live on in the memories of those whose lives he influenced and helped shape.

I hope that reading this might trigger memories of the people you have known and loved.

Br Mac with Fr Pat O'Shea's mother