Barrett, Rev Brother Anselm
January 04, 2011The former principal of St Stephen's School in Waterford, Rev Brother Anselm Barrett, passed away on December 26 at the age of 81, following a short illness.
The County treasurer, Cumann na mBunscol, Br Barrett was heavily involved in the local community in Waterford and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
A deeply religious man, in 1943 he joined the junior Novitiate to become a Brother. Originally from Castleisland, Co.Kerry, he spent the final 27 years of his life in Waterford.
Following other teaching positions in other counties, he began teaching in St Declan's National School in 1983 and seven years later took on the roll of principal in St Stephen's De La Salle Primary School, a position he held for five years.
He loved passing on knowledge and instilled in his pupils the importance of religion and also worked hard to promote the Irish language.
He had a great interest in sport and spent all his life encouraging involvement in the GAA. He himself had a very keen interest in hurling and Gaelic football. He was the president of De La Salle Hurling and football clubs and was extremely proud of the team who won their second Munster Final in 2010.
He played a lot of golf and at a stage in his life he was very fond of hunting and shooting.
Brother Barrett had a thirst for knowledge. He was keen to keep up to date with technology and in recent years took an ECDL course to learn more about computers.
Many of his siblings emigrated to America at a young age, his brother John, Bill, Mike and Tom and sister Mary, and he regularly travelled to visit them.
His late sister Margaret lived in England and he also has a brother, Rev Bro Cornelius, who resides in Laois.
His body was reposed at De La Salle, Patrick Street on Thursday last before removal to the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Requiem mass was held on Friday morning followed by funeral to Castletown, Co. Laois for interment. May he rest in peace.
Courtesy of the Waterford News & Star 4/1/11 Tweet
