Glowing tributes have been paid to Br Cyril Collins who passed away last month.
Br Collins, who lived in De La Salle Brothers, Miguel House in Castletown, was originally from Doon, Kiskeam in Cork.
He first came to Castletown in 1941 when he decided to join the Brothers in Laois after a visit from one to his school in Cork.
He qualified as a primary school teacher and spent time in Cavan, Kilkenny, Waterford, Limerick and Dublin before retiring in 2007 and returning to Castletown.
A much-loved teacher, sports and drama enthusiast and champion of the Community Games, Br Cyril died on February 15 in his 96th year.
During his time, Brother Cyril was incredibly well-known throughout Ireland and encountered many dignitaries like President Mary McAleese and SDLP Leader – the late John Hume.
He also served as president of the Community Games at national level in 1978.
At his funeral mass on February 17 in Castletown, Brother Damien Kellegher gave a wonderful eulogy which has been passed onto us by Brother Kevin McEvoy.
While we also have tributes from a number of people across the country who encountered Brother Cyril during his time.
On coming to Castletown today, I feel it is more in the nature of a celebration or an acclamation of the life and death of one of our admired and respected Brothers, Br Cyril Collins.
I know I speak for all the Brothers, when I say that he carried that honour with great distinction, even in his retirement.
He was a committed religious, a De La Salle Brother par excellence, a man of wisdom, a man of letters, an amateur philosopher, an inspiring teacher, a friend and mentor to many, and a gifted and supremely interesting raconteur.
I wish on behalf of the Brothers to sympathise with his sister, Nora and his Brother Andrew who are unable to be present due to ill health.
I also wish to offer our sympathies to his nephews, nieces grand-nephews, grand-nieces and the wide family circle on his death,
Jeremiah Collins, the future Brother Cyril, was born on 15th Sept 1927, in Doon, Kiskeam, Newmarket, Co. Cork.
We know that they had a small family farm, not adequate in itself to provide for the family needs, but in those days, people made do with what they had. There were no benefits or children’s allowances in those days.
Rural life in Ireland in the 1930s and 1940s was hard. It was customary for some members in the family to go “into service” as it was called in those days, becoming servants in the big houses in Dublin or nearer home, or working with aunts and uncles.
Jeremiah like the rest of the family remained at home carrying out the family manual work on the family farm before and after school each day; no such thing as extra time for study or leisure in those days.
It was customary in then in the primary Schools that all teaching was conducted through the medium of Irish, and so he had a wonderful grá for Irish with a beautiful West Cork blas or accent.
Life was to change for the young Jeremiah, however, when a De La Salle Brother from Castletown, visited the local Primary School in Kiskeam on his bicycle looking for new recruits to join the Brothers and both Jeremiah and his brother decided to join the Brothers.
He was 14 years when he made the journey to the Juniorate in Castletown, Co Laois, in September 1941.
In 1943 he progressed to the Senior Novitiate in Castletown for a year’s spirituality following which he received the Brother’s religious habit and was given the name Brother Cyril.
After the Novitiate year he went to the scholasticate (house of studies) in Faithlegg House on the River Suir Estuary, (now Faithlegg House Hotel) about eight kilometres outside Waterford city in preparation for his studies as a Primary Teacher.
He graduated from the De La Salle Teacher Training College in Waterford, in 1948, and began his career as a teacher in St Patrick’s De La Salle National School, Kilkenny where he spent three years.
There he became involved with James Stephen’s Hurling Club and later on in life was invited back to the club for their celebratory occasions.
After that he spent a number of years teaching in St Felim’s Boys’ national School, Cavan, where he spent 14 Years, St Stephen’s BNS, Waterford, Hospital BNS, Limerick, St. Declan’s NS, Waterford, and De La Salle NS, Ballyfermot.
He also spent time teaching in St Patrick’s BNS, Wicklow, Scoil na Mainistreach De La Salle, Kildare, and in Hazelwood House, on the Upper Kilmacud Road, Dublin before finally retiring to Castletown in 2007.
He was an exceptional teacher and I was fortunate to be taught by him in my final years in St Felim’s Primary school, Cavan.
Apart from his teaching duties which he took very seriously, Brother Cyril immersed himself in extra-curricular activities especially sport and drama.
Paddy Reilly, Honorary President of Cavan Gaels GFC wrote the following: “On behalf of the Cavan GAA Club I want to sympathise with the extended Collins family and the De La Salle Brothers, on the death of Br Cyril.
“He spent 14 years in Cavan, but he achieved more in those years than most people would have achieved in a lifetime.
“He was a brilliant teacher in all subjects but he excelled in Maths and Irish. He put a lot of hard graft into preparing pupils to participate in Irish drama.
“He had the satisfaction of seeing his charges winning all Ireland Schools Drama Competitions on a number of occasions.
“Brother Cyril is best remembered for his contribution to the promotion of GAA both in the schools and in the wider GAA community in Cavan.
“He was instrumental in setting up the School’s Board in 1955 to organise Gaelic Football at under-14 level. He was secretary of the Board from 1955 to 1960 and his school under-14 team won titles on 6 occasions.
“Apart from his school work he was also involved with the foundation of the Cavan Gaels Club and trained the team to win the Senior Title in 1965.”
Athletics was his other great interest and he spent many years after he retired promoting Community games.
He spent a number of years as President of the Community Games and he took a very active part in the organisation of Community Games all over the country.
A long-time friend of his, George O’Toole, who often accompanied him to meetings and Community Games competitions, said: “I first met him in 1978 when he was President of the Community Games
“We travelled all over the country together attending Meetings and Competitions from Monaghan to Derry to Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary to name just a few.”
Some years ago, a special function was held in his honour to mark his remarkable commitment to the Community Games, and a lovely photo is posted in the foyer in Miguel House Nursing Home to mark the occasion.
Brother Joe Reid said: “I first came to know Br. Cyril Collins in 1972 when he attended the summer school of athletics at UCD.
“Br Cyril arrived with Br Athanasius Byrne to organise this event while I arrived from St John’s Monastery Ballyfermot as a participant.
“At that time Br Cyril was heavily involved in Community Games, and devoted a great amount of his time fine-tuning children’s abilities in athletics but particularly in running and sprinting events.
“We were blessed to have some of the best coaches in the country instructing us in various athletic events – including the famous Dr. Con O’Callaghan in the hammer event.”
Outside his work in the schools he was also very faithful to visiting his friends and indeed attending his annual retreat with the Cistercians in Moone Abbey, Co Kildare.
He was a holy man, a deeply spiritual person. He spent hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament praying to Our Lady for whom he had a special devotion.
He had a gentle sense of humour that could puncture any pretentiousness or expression of superiority.
He remained close to his family throughout his life, and they were very faithful in visiting him in Miguel Nursing Home in Castletown.
Eventually when he realised he needed some care he arrived in Miguel House on 1st December, 2007.
His health which was never robust, had deteriorated somewhat and consequently he decided to come to Miguel.
However, he wasn’t to spend his time twiddling his thumbs and he soon took up the role of sacristan.
Brother Joe Reid continues: “I often met with Br Cyril during my many visits to Castletown.
“He attended the Community Masses celebrated each day in the Oratory. He attended his work as a Sacristan, with nothing short of religious fervour and the more candles that he could place on the altar or in front of Our Lady’s Shrine the better.”
Some people are advised to take up a new hobby when they retire and Br Cyril certainly took this advice to heart.
A local artist, Billy Dollard, has been organising weekly art classes in Miguel House for many years for the Brothers and shortly after his arrival in Miguel House Brother Cyril took up this new hobby with gusto and made enormous progress.
Many of his exhibits are on display in Castletown and in a number of Brothers’ Communities and indeed in many of the rooms in Miguel House and in my own room in the Howth Road.
It has to be said that Br Cyril was very faithful to his obligations as a consecrated Religious Brother. Every morning in the school in Cavan we had morning prayers and a decade of the Rosary.
During the course the day a student in the class would remind us that we were in the Holy Presence of God. O
n Sunday morning all the Brothers in the Community attended 10am Mass in the Cathedral in Cavan. The Brothers sat beside their classes and there was seldom any issue with order or discipline.
Meanwhile, all the locals attending Mass admired the wonderful behaviour of the Brothers’ Boys.
Brother Cyril loved Castletown and enjoyed the organised activities there, the art classes and the trips on the bus on Wednesdays.
He was always proud of his work and loved to show his exhibits to those who called to visit. He was very generous with his pictures and loved to present them to family members and friends.
As we bid farewell to his mortal remains, we retain so many good memories of Cyril, a Brother who lived his vocation to the full, helping so many young, and not so young people in different ways.
He certainly took to heart St John Baptist de La Salle’s wise counsel: “Is your faith such as to enable you to touch the hearts of your students and inspire them with the Christian spirit?
“This is the greatest miracle you can perform, and one which God expects of you.”
Patsy Lee, a past pupil and former Principal of St Patrick’s College, Cavan shared the following memories: “A small group in our class in St Felim’s was extra lucky when Brother Cyril decided to produce plays in Irish for competitions at drama festivals.
“We auditioned by sitting on the classroom floor pretending to row a boat and singing a little verse about our ‘báidín’.
“This was the start of a great adventure which took us on an annual round of festivals in Cavan, Mullingar, Navan, Ballyshannon and even into Northern Ireland.
“First places were common with individuals like Liam Cooke and Paddy McCormack (RIP) taking individual golds.
“Brother Cyril deservedly won numerous production awards over the following few years. He had elaborate scenery, lighting, make-up and sound effects on stage like the true professional he was.
“I have vivid memories of training in voice production. He got us to stand at one end of the school corridor whispering until he could hear us at the other end. We won the All Ireland Schools’ title twice in Dublin, coming first and second with two plays in one year.
“This culminated in an invitation to perform our play in Irish at the adult All Ireland English Drama Festival in Athlone.
“The honour sort of passed over the heads of ten and eleven year olds who were often more interested in the refreshments.
“The four plays we performed allowed us to see much of Ireland in the Fifties, usually ferried around in Jack Flood’s black taxi. The play Íosagán launched us into juvenile stardom!
“Brother Cyril was passionate about schools football and a blade of grass was never safe around him as he had a nervous habit of chewing bits of it.
He carried the same passion into his support of Cavan Gaels. He was even known to referee matches in Breiffni Park.”
Breda Power who for the past 40 years has been involved in Community Games at Local, Provincial and National Level and currently the Connacht PRO wrote on the Connacht Community Games Facebook page: “It was with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Bro Cyril Collins, a De La Salle Brother in Castletown, Co Laois.
“Bro Cyril was a stalwart in Community Games and we all have very fond memories of him Mosney and later in Athlone Institute of Technology.
“In the early years he co-ordinated the long Puck (Poc Fada) and hurling, and then worked with PR.
“I have great memories of him always with his note book at the ready going out and about at the National Finals, to record any interesting facts about the participants and teams and their journey to get to the Finals and then sitting down and writing a wonderful story.
“He was a great story-teller, and many will have wonderful memories of him.
“He was a true gentleman, and it was an honour to work with him in PR. May He Rest Peacefully in the Arms of the Angels.”
Michael Brophy who was on the PR Committee for the Community Games in 2019 wrote: “I met Brother Cyril in Miguel House in Castletown, Co Laois in April 2019 where we chatted about times past and the Community Games and he relayed some very worthwhile stories from the past.
“For many years Bro Cyril Collins was a central figure with the PR team in Mosney and later in Athlone and gathered so many stories from the boys and girls who participated in Community Games from every corner of Ireland.
“His enthusiasm and memory of names was amazing as I sat back and listened to his gentle voice.
“Before leaving Bro Cyril, I presented him with the ALDI National Community Games programme from August 2018 and his face opened up with that all-familiar smile that we all know about in Community Games.”
May he rest in Peace with the Lord he loved and served so well during his life on earth.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
SEE ALSO – Sadness following passing of Laois principal who ‘united three schools’
