Tributes paid to former St Malachy’s principal

Tributes paid to former St Malachy’s principal

14 April 2021

TRIBUTES have been paid to Mr Des Farley, the former principal of St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan, who died last week.

Mr Farley, who was 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Newcastle on Easter Monday surrounded by his loving family.

A dedicated and inspiring teacher, Mr Farley was principal of St Malachy’s from 1987 until his retirement in 2000.

He played a leading role in the development of the school and cared deeply for the pupils and his colleagues, who remember him with affection and respect.

He was also a talented sportsman, particularly in Gaelic games where he distinguished himself both as a player and a coach. He was the trainer of the Down football team which won the All-Ireland title in 1968. He was also a keen golfer and was a member of Mourne Golf Club.

Mrs Orla O’Neill, current principal of St Malachy’s, said the governors, staff and students were “deeply saddened by the passing of our esteemed past principal”. 

She said Mr Farley began teaching in St Malachy’s in 1962 as head of PE and achieved much success in football, hurling, athletics and basketball over the years.

“His passion and enthusiasm for Gaelic games and his coaching prowess enabled many generations of young people to experience success at school, club and county level.

“He was, as has been said on many occasions, a coach who was very much ahead of his time and one of the first specialist PE teachers in Northern Ireland. Many past pupils have fond memories of their time playing on teams under his leadership.

“During his tenure as principal he had the privilege of bringing home many titles, including three Markey Cups and U-16 and U-14 Down and Ulster football titles. 

“Master Farley, as he was fondly known, knew that hard work and effort were needed in life and in school and he actively encouraged the students in his care to do both to succeed.”

Mrs O’Neill said Mr Farley was a senior teacher and then vice-principal before taking over the reins as principal in 1987. 

“Mr Farley became principal at a time of great change in education with the introduction of the new 

Northern Ireland Curriculum,” she recalled.

“He ensured that, with his outstanding leadership, St Malachy’s was at the forefront of educational innovation and with his experience and motivation the staff adopted the new curriculum successfully, so much so that the prestigious Schools Curriculum Award was presented to the school in 1990.”

She said the introduction of the new curriculum saw a period of rapid growth for St Malachy’s.

“There was a growing emphasis on technology, IT,  science and languages. New mobile classrooms and facilities had to be put in place. Such was the success of the school that in 1992 the population exceeded 1,000 pupils for the first time.”

Mrs O’Neill said it was then that Mr Farley’s vision for St Malachy’s took hold and his dream of a new school building began.

“He worked tirelessly with governors, trustees and local MP Eddie McGrady to lobby the government for funding for the new school. His efforts were rewarded in 1997 when the new building commenced.” 

She continued: “The magnificent £13 million state-of-the-art school building was officially opened in June 2000. It stands today as a testament to Mr Farley and his outstanding leadership, creativity, commitment, dedication 

and vision for education in our community.

“He future-proofed quality education for generations to come and we know he had a positive and lasting impact on many young people’s lives over the years. A true great in education and we as a school will be forever indebted to him for his 38 years of devotion and service. He will be 

sadly missed by the entire St Malachy’s family.”

Mr Eamonn O’Neill, a former vice-principal at St Malachy’s, described Mr Farley as a “good friend and colleague”.

He said: “Des was already at the school when I went there in 1968. He was a great fellow to work with, very dependable, careful and thoughtful in everything he did.

“He will be well remembered as someone who was very popular with the pupils and his colleagues. Everyone liked him.”

Mr O’Neill also referred to Mr Farley’s sporting achievements with St Malachy’s and the GAA. “He made a great contribution to Gaelic games at the school. He was also a great 

organiser of teams, games and sports days.”

Originally from  Armagh, Mr Farley won a county senior football championship medal with his home club, Collegeland, before winning a Down senior championship medal with Castlewellan in 1965.

In 1967 he was asked to join the Down management team as trainer and followed in the tradition of other GAA stalwarts, including Danny Flynn, Paddy McAleenan and Dan Rooney to become principal of St Malachy’s.

Mr Seamus McClean, chairman of the Down Supporters Club and a past pupil at St Malachy’s, described Mr Farley as a great coach.

“He was a top trainer, ahead of his time, and he took a Down team that many concluded were past their peak and helped turn them into All-Ireland winners,” he said.

“You can’t say that about too many people and there was a great sense of pride in his adopted Castlewellan that he played such a vital role in Down’s success.”

In a tribute on Facebook, Castlewellan GAC said Mr Farley will “famously be remembered as the club member who coached the Down senior team to win the National League and All-Ireland in 1968”.

The tribute continued: “He also coached our senior team for a period in the 1980’s. It is patently obvious that Des was a winner and he wanted his teams to win. Des will be fondly remembered by this club and those who were fortunate enough to have been coached by him. May he rest in peace.”

Down GAA secretary Sean Og McAteer said: “Des Farley made a difference to the lives of many he met, either as a trainer to Down football teams or as a teacher and principal in St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan.

“Down GAA value and recognise the contribution of the man who came to County Down in the 1960s and made an impact in so many ways.”

Mr Farley was interred in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Bryansford, on Friday following requiem mass.

Sympathy is extended to his wife, Elizabeth, daughter Shelley-Ann, son-in-law Nicholas and the family circle.