Athlone school postpones grad after death of popular teacher

Staff, students and parents of the Marist College in Athlone are mourning the sad passing this week of Mary Cryan, a dedicated teacher at the school who was described as "an amazing friend and colleague".

The Sligo native, who was living in Monksland, Athlone, died peacefully at her home on Monday morning after a battle with illness.

Aged in her late 40s, she taught geography and religion at the Marist since 1999, and also served as a special educational needs organiser within the school.

The departing sixth year students at the school decided to postpone their graduation dance, which had been scheduled to take place in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel this evening (Tuesday), as a mark of respect following Mary's untimely passing.

The principal of the Marist College, Michael Dermody, said Mary had been a great friend to the school community and would be deeply missed.

He said that despite her recent illness she had been teaching at the school right up to the end of the last school year, in June.

"The speed with which things developed has been very much a shock for students and staff alike," he said. "Mary was a teacher of geography and religion who began teaching in the Marist in September 1999.

"She was a fantastically dedicated and committed teacher, and that has been reflected in the tributes online, the emails, and the different messages I've received from past and current pupils this week. It shows the high esteem in which Mary was held.

"One of her main characteristics was that she was always focused on the student who might need that extra bit of help, that extra push. She spent a lot of her time and energy on those students," said Mr Dermody.

"She had outstanding results from her students in State exams, but what really stands out in the students' memories of Mary is her care and empathy.

“She was always putting her students first."

The Marist principal also spoke of Mary's work as special educational needs organiser in the school.

"It was here that Mary really championed the cause of students who may have needed some additional support and resources," he said.

"Through that work, she came into contact with a lot of parents, and they greatly appreciated the work that Mary did, which often involved a lot of back-and-forth with different Government departments to ensure necessary resources were granted for particular students.

"That's something she did and enjoyed doing, and I know that she developed lots of strong relationships with parents of those students who saw how much she went above and beyond what would normally be expected from somebody in that role,” Mr Dermody added.

He said that when the news of Mary's passing broke this week, the head boys from the graduating sixth year class took the decision themselves to postpone tonight's graduation dance planned for the Sheraton Athlone Hotel as they would not have been happy to go ahead with it this week given the sad circumstances.

Mary Cryan, originally from Ballinafad, Sligo, was predeceased by her father Kevin and sister Margaret.

Her passing is deeply mourned by her mother Mary, sister Sandra, partner James, brother-in-law David, nieces Saoirse and Róisín, aunts and uncles, cousins friends and neighbours.

Her remains will be reposing in Perry's funeral home, Ballymote, tomorrow morning (Wednesday) from 10am to 11.30am, with the funeral arriving to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Culfadda, for Funeral Mass at 12 noon.

May she rest in peace.