Heslin Augustine, James
November 19, 2010IT was with deep sadness that I learned of the passing on October 13th last of this Drumcauskeen, Cloone native who was an inspirational teacher and influential mentor to young 17 year old arriving in U.C.D from the drumlin hills of North Longford to the anonymity of a large university like U.C.D in October 1976.
Seamus was born on September 1st 1934 to Patrick and Margaret Heslin of Drumcuaskeen, South Leitrim. He was the eldest of eight - four boys (Seamus, Patrick, Joseph and Sean) and four girls (Kathleen, Mary, Margaret and Brid). He attended Rossan national school from 1939- 1948. Seamus understood the cultural habitat of North Longford having attended the Latin school in Moyne from 1948 - 1953. He had won a scholarship to St Mels College in 1948 but never settled there. So like all entrepreneurial Cloone people he found an alternative pathway, he brought a bicycle and transferred to Moyne!
Under the tuteledge of his influential mentor and outstanding teacher Monsignor James Faughan and other dedicated staff he won a Leitrim Co Council scholarship to U.C.D and thus began a remarkable academic career with B.Comm (1st class honours), A masters of Economic Sceince (UCD), followed by a Master of Literature Degree (M.Litt) from TCD in 1974. Seamus was appointed to the Department of Political Economy in January 1969 and was involved in a wide range of teaching duties to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He retired from U.C.D in 1999.
Seamus was first and foremost a devout catholic with unqualified commitment to the church. Over the years he took part in many pilgramages to the ancient sanctuary of St Patricks on Lough Derg.
His passionate love of all sports particularly GAA became manifest at an early age and was a constant presence on Cloone teams throughout the 50's and 60's. He won junior and senior football leagues and championships. Seamus continued his involvement in GAA while in Dublin and played for a time with the westerners in the Phoenix Park. He was also a voracious reader and had a deep knowledge/understanding of the history of Ireland. He took particular interest in the 1798 rising and the battle of Ballinamuck which was only across the fields from Drumcauskeen. He had an encyclopediac knowledge of the 1916-1922 period and visited Beal Na Blath many times while on hoilday in West Cork with his family.
He had a keen interest in current affairs and politics and kept in close touch with happenings and events in his beloved county of Leitrim from his home in Glasnevin. He made many fine contributions to the Leitrim Guardian and was always available whenever he heard "Leitrim" mentioned.
Above all Seamus was always close to his roots and despite living in the city his heart remained with the rural ways of life.
Seamus's funeral mass was celebrated by his brother Fr Sean in St Columbas Church, Iona Road, Glasnevin on 16th October 2010, and he was then laid to rest in Glasnevin Cemetry, just across the road from where he lived.
To Johanna, his life who met in U.C.D and married in 1964, his daughters Maureen and Aideen and sons Finbarr and Padraic, we wish to extend our sincere affection and remembrance at this difficult time.
We leave the last lines with John O'Donohue from his book Anam Cara.
May you be peaceful and happy and in the presence of those who really care for you. May your going be sheltered and your welcome assured.
May your soul smile in the embrace of your Anam Cara.
Months Mind Mass next Saturday November 20th at 5pm in Cloone Church.
Courtesy of the Leitrim Observer 19/11/10 Tweet
