The late Declan Horgan A link with the Green School stretching back over four decades was served with the death of retired teacher with Declan Horgan, Clonalour, Oakpark, Tralee. Declan's contribution to the educational system in the Green was immense. Pupils and teachers benefited from his encouragement and unique style of teaching. A chapter on the history of the school is now closed with his passing. Declan Horgan was born in Killarney on October 23, 1922. His parents were Tim and Mary Horgan of Emmet's Terrace and his was the youngest of five children - Marie (O'Loughlin) RIP, Babs (Madden) RIP, Pierse RIP, and Eileen (Hackett). His early education was in the Monastery Primary School, and later in St Brendan's Seminary. Following an exceptional Intermediate Certificate, in which he achieved first in Ireland in Greek, he studied for a BA in University College Cork. While in UCC, he was secretary of the Student's Union. He graduated with an honours BA degree in classics and followed this with a H.Dip to pursue a career in secondary teaching. His first teaching post was in Dingle CBS in 1946. A year later, a permanent post was offered to him in St Vincent's CBS, Glasnevin, Dublin. He recalled with fondness the happy years that he spent in Dublin. There was and active Kerry community in the capital during the 1950's and he quickly became involved in this. He was among the founders of the Kerry Association in Dublin, serving as the secretary in 1951 and 1952 and chairman in 1953. It was in Dublin that he met and married Dodie Comer in 1961. Though nursing in Dublin and from Rathdowney in Co Laois, her mother was a native of Ballybane in Firies. So when a teaching post became vacant in The Green, Tralee, they happily returned to Kerry in 1961. From then until his retirement in 1988, he taught Latin and English in his won unique style. He was an active member of the Saint Vincent de Paul and the GAA in Tralee, until a heart attack in 1972 forced him to curtail his voluntary activities. In spite of a period of ill health, he continued to teach with the dedication and fairness that were to become his hallmark to a generation of Tralee students. He held his Republican principles steadfastly throughout his life. During the 70s, and 80s, his door was always opened to those who were actively engaged in the struggle for Irish freedom. The continued existence of the border 90 years after the Easter Rising disappointed him. Declan had a life long association with the GAA. During his secondary school years in St Brendan's, Killarney, he won several Kerry Colleges medals. He won a Sigerson Cup medal with UCC. He played in two senior football championship finals in Kerry, firstly with Dingle and then with Legion - but was on the losing side on both occasions. During his years in Dublin, he was secretary to the Geraldines GAA club. On returning to Kerry, he turned his organisational skills to under age football. He was one of the original founders of Bord na nOg in the county, serving as its secretary for a number of years, until ill health forced him to curtail his involvement. However, this interest never waned and the evenings spent on the terraces in his beloved Fitzgerald Stadium and Austin Stack Park, were amongst his happiest. His knowledge of GAA lore was immense and always available to those interested in our sporting history. He recognised the GAA as more than just a sporting organisation, but part of our national heritage and, as such, was saddened to see the rule changes, allowing other sports to use Croke Park. The removal of Declan's remains took place from Hogan's Funeral Home on Sunday, February 12 to St John's Church. Following Requiem Mass on Monday morning internment took place in New Rath Cemetery. The large number of people who attended on both days was testament to the esteem in which Declan and his family were held. Declan is deeply missed by his loving wife Dodie, children, Tim who lives in Tralee, Mary (Cork), Margaret (Killybegs) and Rossa (Westport) and twelve grandchildren, relatives and many friends. Suaimhneas siorrai da anam dilis. Courtesy of The Kerryman 23 February 2006 Tweet

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