On the late evening of the 14th and the morning of the 15th of January
shock waves were experienced in many homes as news spread that Michael
Healy was seriously ill. It was all the more shocking because the Michael
that we knew was the picture of health, on top of his work and in his
usual good form. Those days of the third week of January will forever
be etched in the memories of Michael's family his neighbours and friends
and the teachers, pupils and people of Bohola. On Saturday the 19th
January, at around noon, Michael's family gently let him go; with a
deep faith and great dignity they gently handed Michael back to his
creator. To borrow an idea from the game of football, which Michael
loved - the manager called ashore the Captain in the middle of the match
in which Michael was playing a true Captain's part. It did not seem
to make sense and it was greeted with disbelief. Even now we find it
so difficult to come to terms with our loss.
Michael was appointed to Bohola NS in September 1981 and taught in one
of the 'prefabs' at the back of the church. With him on the staff were
the Principal Michael Doyle, and Marie Conlon and Anne Gavigan. In 1987
the new school was opened and in 1996 Michael Doyle retired as principal.
Michael Healy became principal and Áine Henry joined the teaching
staff.
In school Michael created a lovely, warm atmosphere. He was an inspiration
to his colleagues and radiated peace, calm and serenity. Michael, indeed,
had many excellent qualities, which we have all experienced in different
ways. He had a sharp intellect and he saw primary education as the all
round development of the individual child. He was a skilled educator
in that he was able to see the talents, sometimes hidden in the pupil
and was able to draw out those talents and help the child develop them
and so prepared his pupils well for secondary education and indeed for
life. Michael realised that to be a good teacher he had to continue
to learn. He was continually improving his own skills. This is so evident
in the amount of time and work he put into doing extra courses and teaching
himself so that he would be up to date on everything new that came on
the market. In the classroom Michael was a skilled teacher and a fine
disciplinarian. He had a great sense of justice and fair play and this
was so evident on the football field. He taught the pupils how to win
fairly and always to be gracious in defeat. In his dealings with parents
he was always approachable, sincere and honest. He wished the best for
the pupils and saw teaching as a team effort - home and school.
Michael was a man of pleasant manner, possessing a fine sense of humour
and besides being a skilled teacher, he was an excellent artist. He
had a great love of the Irish language and culture but never pushed
it at anybody. He was a man of deep Christian faith and this was the
foundation stone of all that he did. His love of god, family and neighbour
shone out.
Without doubt Michael was a great gift to our school. His light has
shone brightly wherever he has been. Over the years he has lit the light
in the hearts of his pupils and today that light is bearing its fruit
not only in Ireland but also, in many parts of the world and will continue
to do so for many years to come. On the journey of life, that we are
all on, every so often we are privileged to meet and journey with, for
a time, somebody very special. We have been privileged to have met Michael
and to have been touched by his life. We thank God for that gift and
pray that his vision of life and his many fine qualities may ease our
sadness and continue to inspire us.
Above all Michael was an outstanding family man. He was a truly wonderful
husband and father. We will miss Michael greatly in Bohola but we can
only begin to imagine the great sadness and sense of loss his family
are experiencing. The Board of Management, Staff, Pupils, parents and
indeed the whole community of Bohola extend our sincerest sympathy to
Michael's wife, Pat, to his children Sinéad, Darragh, Gráinne,
and Michéal, to his mother Agnes, his brothers and sisters and
all his relatives and extended family. The love of God is reflected
in good people. Michael, in his life, reflected and radiated that love
in a very special way. We thank God for the gift of Michael and pray
that his vision of life and his many fine qualities may help to ease
our sadness and continue and inspire us.
Ní bheidh a léithéad ann arís.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
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