The death has occurred of León De Barra, former highy-respected school principal in Mountmellick. He was aged in his late 80s.
Mr De Barra was one of the early principals of Mountmellick Vocational School, appointed to the tole in 1967. He retired from that position in 1990 when the vocational school amalgamated with St Mary’s College to form Mountmellick Community School.
An excellent educator who was fondly remembered by his many students and later remained involved in adult education through the LOETB.
He was also heavily involved in local charity organisations as well as with Mountmellick GAA, where he was club vice-president, was over teams at various stages and was much in the thick of things in the 1980s when the club were developing their grounds in Acragar.
He was also a Laois GAA referee for many years, taking charge of countless hurling and football games around the county.
Mr De Barra passed away at home in the company of his beloved wife Esther last week. Predeceased by his brothers Micheál and Kevin.
Sadly missed by Esther, his sons Diarmuid, Niall, León Óg, his daughter-in-law Catherine, his grandchildren Niall Óg and Nóra, his sisters Nóra and Ann, his brothers-in-law Noel, Liam and Pat, sister-in-law Ann, nieces, nephews, numerous friends, neighbours and former colleagues and students.
His funeral mass took place on Monday in Mountmellick, followed by burial afterwards in St Joseph’s Cemetery.
