The late Michael Gallagher Michael F. Gallagher NT (1914-2006), school teacher, sportsman and writer, passed away. Mick who was born in Ballindine was educated in the local national school and at St Jarlath's College, Tuam, where he distinguished himself as a scholar and on the football field. A classmate and forever friend was Joe Cunnane, who later became Archbishop of Tuam. After Leaving Certificate he was called to teacher training college. Soon after graduation he was appointed as assistant to Master Padden in Belmullet Boy's National School. Padden had lost a leg in the battle of the Somme in the Great War. Mick immersed himself in the life of Belmullet and was a keyplayer in the Belmullet football team that won the Mayo Junior Championship in 1936. After Master Padden retired, Mick became Principal teacher of the Boys School. Ireland was in a very depressed state, following the Wall Street Crash and the economic war with Britain that followed as a result of the De Valera government refusing to pay the ammunities. Massive unemployment made emigration the only option available to the boys leaving the National Schools. Mick Gallagher was acutely aware that when most of the boys would not receive any further formal education after they passed through his hands. He taught them how to write letters to apply for jobs etc. He prepared those that were willing for scholarships to secondary schools. More of his pupils went on to third level education than any comparable sized school in the West of Ireland. An excellent all round teacher he excelled in Irish and History. his love of the Story of Irish Race was contagious and many of his former pupils retained this love of history all their lives. Mick played football for Belmullet for many years. After he hung up his boots he took up golf. Like everything he did, he played golf to a very high standard. Not a long hitter of the ball, he more than made up for this by his accuracy and great skill of his short game. As a result he won many trophies and distinctions. While in Belmullet he met and married the lovely Marie Sloyan, a native of Kiltimagh, who taught in Corclough school. After marriage the happy couple lived in Corclough for a number of years before building their own house in Belmullet. During the 1940s and 1950s, Belmullet held Gala Week to raise funds for the new church. This was a week of plays and concerts that was held in James's Hall. It was the highlight of the social calendar in Belmullet. The tour de fource of the week was the play staged by Gallagher Players on the Friday night. Mick was the director and played the principal male role. Marie played the principal female role. Among the many plays performed by them was "The Righteous are Bold" and "Gas Light". The acting in their parts was of a professional standard. After Mick and Marie retired from teaching Mick and Marie moved to Kiltimagh to be near family and to be bear Our Lady's Shrine in Knock where they both acted as volunteers. Mick was in a private way devoutly religious and had a special devotion to Our Lady. Mick enjoyed visits from his former pupils and took great delight in their success. One of his former pupils Pat (not his real name) became successful in an unusual way. One evening while Mick was still in Belmullet he was working in his wonderful vegetable garden, when a top of the range Jaguar with an English registration pulled into his yard. Out stepped Pat, dressed in the best that Carnaby Street could supply. He had a gift for Mick. After exchanging greetings Mick said 'you are obviously doing well Pat'. 'I am sir, and I owe it all to you' said Pat. Mick was puzzled and asked Pat to explain. Pat said "after I left the Boys School I went to the "Teck" and learned carpentry. I then went to England where I worked for some years as a carpenter on building sites and was very happy with my lot. One day, I was in this building site erecting doors with a number of English workers working close by. One day the engineer in charge of the project came to where I was working and spoke to me. Recognising my Irish accent he addressed me in Irish and asked if I had Irish". I answered him in Irish and said I had. I told him the amount. He said that the sub-contractor who was employing me got three times that amount for the work I was doing. He said that I should become a sub-contractor myself. I took his advice and now have several carpenters working under me. Pat said 'none of this would ever have happened if you had not taught me Irish at school". Mick Gallagher, master teacher and gentleman, thank you for everything, we shall not look upon your like again. Joseph M. Kelly - Former Pupil Courtesy of The Western People 22/08/2006 Tweet

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