GiftededucatorAideenmade herfamilycoreofherlife
THERE was great sadness and shock at the passing of Aideen Lawless (nee Daly) at the young age of 46 years at her home, Kilcroney, Readypenny, Dundalk, in the arms of her loving husband Paddy on the morning of 26 August, 2018.
Aideen grew up in Inniskeen in County Monaghan. She attended Blackstaff National School and Saint Louis Secondary School in Carrickmacross.
She obtained her Primary Degree and Higher Diploma from University College Galway while later she attended Queen’s University where she was awarded a Master’s Degree.
She taught in several schools in Dublin, Louth, Monaghan and Cavan, before joining the staff of Loreto College, Cavan, where she taught English, History and Geography for more than twenty years.
Aideen was a gifted educator and an inspiration to the many pupils who attended her classes. Many students commented on the impact that Aideen’s teaching had on both their career and their life choices and all were better for having known her.
Evidence of this was illustrated to her family by the effort made by both current and past pupils to pay their respects and share stories of the help and guidance that she provided with a minimum of fuss and a quiet attention to detail.
This was not a burden to Aideen as she loved teaching and loved dealing with the fantastic girls she came into contact with during her time in Loreto.
She also brought a wealth of knowledge and experience gained through many years of correcting Higher-Level English Leaving Certificate exam papers.
Aideen will be sadly missed by her colleagues, dear friends and students both past and present from Loreto College.
Aideen’s great love throughout her life was family and she was the rock that others clung to in both good times and bad. Aideen and Paddy were married in Inniskeen on 27 October, 2000, enjoying almost 18 years of happy marriage until her untimely passing.
The greatest joy in both Aideen and Paddy’s lives was the arrival of their daughters. Aideen was a very proud mother to three fantastic daughters whom she loved deeply.
The memories they shared, such as singing songs while driving in the car or going shopping with their mother, granny and aunts will live with them forever.
Aideen was very welcoming and her home in Kilcroney was always very open for sleepovers to her beloved nieces and nephews who knew they only had to ask and a quick reply of ‘ let them stay’ would follow.
Aideen was a great friend and was loyal to a fault. She loved a good debate on many subjects, be it politics, religion or her beloved Monaghan football team. She dreamed of Sam Maguire visiting Monaghan.
She was a fun-loving person who always had a smile and loved the craic. She enjoyed nothing more than a good night out or a nice meal with family and friends.
She had a love of Irish poetry and culture, with a special affinity to the works of Patrick Kavanagh.
She loved Irish traditional music and always felt a night out or a dinner party could be further improved with a good sing-song, with many held in both Kilmurry and Kilcroney over the years.
Aideen was predeceased by her brother, Fergal and her father, Pat.
She reposed at her home in Kilcroney with huge numbers visiting her wake before she was taken to Saint Mary’s Church in Knockbridge where her funeral Mass was celebrated by Father Paddy Rushe, Knockbridge, assisted by Father Seán McArdle, Louth Village.
Aideen’s pupils in Loreto formed a guard of honour, with the many clubs and groups that Annie, Aoife and Grace are part of including Saint Bride’s Ladies football club, Scoil Rince Mona Ní Rodaigh Irish dancing school, Louth Hunt Pony Club, Brownies and Girl Guides as well as the pupils and staff of Saint Mary’s National School in Knockbridge, all in attendance.
Aideen will be deeply missed by her husband, Paddy and her beloved daughters, Annie, Aoife and Grace; her mother, Annie, sisters; Mairéad and Fionnuala; brothers, Pádraig, Séamus, Tadhg, Ronan and Niall; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, mother-in-law, father-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends of whom she had too many to mention.