Dora Joy from Finuge, who passed away recently, will be better known to some as Dora Fitzgerald from Castlegregory, or as Gobnait nic Gearailt to other readers.
Born in Castlegregory in 1930, Dora was the second child of George and Mary. She spent her early years in the West Kerry village, until she won first place in the County Council scholarship exams. At that time she moved to Dingle to complete her primary school education, prior to becoming a pupil at Colaiste Ide which was at that time a preparatory school for girls intending to become national school teachers.
After four years in Colaiste Ide, Dora moved to Mary Immaculate College in Limerick to undertake her training as a national school teacher. Once qualified she taught in a number of primary schools, but her move to Derryquay national school proved especially fortuitous.
A colleague in that school, and lifelong friend, introduced her cousin Gerald Joy to Dora and they married in 1962.
Dora spent most of her teaching career in Lixnam NS, from which she retired in 1996 having taught hundreds of pupils in the course of a career which spanned more than 45 years. Her former pupils include current Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice and Kerry player Paul Galvin.
Sporting and teaching interests coincided in the 1970s, when Dora became engaged in Finuge GAA Club in the 1970s as a founder member and secretary of that Club's Bord na nOg, bringing boys from Lixnaw to play with the club.
Friends of Dora will be well aware of her lifelong interest in both cryptic crosswords and fancy dress competitions, and over the years many a parent found that their children had been 'borrowed' to participate in fancy dress competitions in Finuge, Listowel or Lixnaw.
In more recent years her eight grandchildren to whom she was devoted, found themselves at various events bearing placards which had regard to topical political or footballing issues! Until very close to her death Dora did the Irish Independent cryptic crossword every day and all have fond memories of receiving phone calls while at work from Dora who was anxious to discuss possible solutions to the clues at 6 down or 5 across!
Dora was pre-deceased by her husband Gerald who died in 1996 and she also survived her two brothers. She is survived by her four children Mary, Garry, George and Johnny, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and her eight beloved grandchildren.

The Kerryman, 2nd October 2013 Tweet

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