Claremorris and Caherlistrane
It was a well known fact that Mick, as he was known to all, was always at the heart of the banter in the staff room at St Colman’s. No better man to stir things up than Mick who had a brilliant sense of timing when it came to such matters. Then he’d sit back and enjoy the scene as things took their own twists and turns!
Mick had a good rapport with the students in the Claremorris school. In his first few years in Colman’s, he taught Latin. But when the college, like so many others schools, dropped some of the classic subjects from the curriculum, he assumed the duties of a maths teacher.
He was closely associated with gaelic football in the school and was a selector with the team that won the Hogan Cup in 1977. Fr Martin Newell was manager of the side.
Mick was born in Caherlistrane in Galway. He was son of Tim and Eileen McHugh and the family had a long association with the teaching profession. At one stage, three of his sisters taught in Claremorris parish.
When later three of his own family qualified as secondary school teachers, Mick often mentioned the fact that this was the fifth generation of teachers in the McHugh family line.
He had a life-long interest in gaelic football which was nurtured during his years in St Jarlath’s College. He played for Jarlath’s and also for the Galway minors and later for UCG.
Like all Galwegians, he revelled in the glory of the Galway three in a row team of the 1960s. For Mick, football and hurling remained part of his life and the friendships made over the years were treasured by him in a special way. He also took an interest in cross-channel soccer.
Mick was a familiar figure in Claremorris town over the decades. He had a word for all and was a born optimist who seldom let the adversities of life get him down. He maintained that spirit through the years and, in the words of the Latin language that he taught to many of us in St Colman’s, he believed in the philosophy – Carpe Diem… ‘Seize the Day’.
In many ways, Mick was something of an institution when it came to memories of St Colman’s college. Many will remember him with affection. To his family and the extended family circle, we tender condolences on their sad bereavement.
Removal took place from Donnellan’s Funeral Home to Claremorris Church with burial in St Colman’s Cemetery following Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Martin Newell and Fr John O’Boyle, both former teaching colleagues of Mick’s in St Colman’s College.
Mick, who was predeceased by his brothers, Aiden and Sean, is survived by his wife, Helen; sons, Bernard (Waterford) and Mervyn (Killarney); daughters, Gemma (Cavan), Lorraine (Manchester) and Rebecca (Tullamore); five grandchildren; in-laws; sisters, Mary Lynch (Ballindine), Gemma Smyth (Drimneen, Claremorris), Olive Walshe (Kiltimagh) and Anita Cruysen (Holland); nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, relatives, neighbours and friends. - MC.
