Mrs. Mollie Cahill (centre front row) with her teaching staff
MRS. MOLLIE CAHILL
Mrs. Cahill was born Mollie Christopher on the North Circular Road, Dublin. Her family moved to Homefarm Road in Drumcondra, Dublin from where she went to the Kings Inns Schools. She won a scholarship to an elite Preparatory College. She was one of the first groups of students and the first Dubliner to attend Colaiste Ide in Burnham just outside Dingle in County Kerry.
Mollie later went on to Carysfort College in Blackrock, Dublin where she trained and qualified as a primary school teacher. Mollie married Eugene Cahill from Cork becoming the well Known Mrs. Cahill. The Cahill’s lived on the Howth Road, Raheny, Dublin. When she got married she had to resign from her teaching job as was the controversial ruling at that time for married women.
Mrs. Cahill had two sons Barry and Eoghan. She taught in Whitefriar Street in Dublin city centre for some years before returning to Raheny to teach. The school was at that time located behind the Scouts Den in Raheny. In the early 1950’s the three new primary schools were built on All Saints Drive in Raheny. Mrs. Cahill became the Principal of the Junior/Infant school and named it Scoil Ide after Colaiste Ide in Kerry where she had attended herself as a pupil. Scoil Ide was officially opened in 1958. There were approximately 800 pupils in the schools overall. Every year Mrs. Cahill organised a big sale of work to raise funds for Scoil Ide going all around the parish as far as Donaghmede and beyond to get sponsorship. Quite a lot of local people knitted garments for this event.
Mrs. Cahill was very popular among the staff, pupils and parents alike always trying her best for everyone. She regularly arranged staff outings. She was very musical and played the piano. She was deeply involved with the Ladies Club in Raheny who put on a number of shows with Mrs. Cahill playing the piano. She also played the organ in the old St. Assam’s Church where she assembled a choir. Mrs. Cahill was in great demand to play piano for all manner of social events. She was very involved in the community of Raheny and the teaching staff came to know the community through her involvement. Mrs. Cahill and her long-time friend Mrs. Eileen Phillips together named Bord Failte now Failte Ireland. Mrs. Cahill retired in 1975. In her retirement she enjoyed reading and music.
In 1977 she received a Benemerenti Medal from His Holiness the Pope in recognition of her work in Raheny. She was both surprised and delighted by this award and wore the medal to many outings with great pride.
Mollie Cahill was a highly popular and widely respected lady and is to this day known as Mrs. Cahill in Raheny. She was kind, considerate and understanding with a good sense of fun and enjoyed life.
PADDY LYNCH
Paddy Lynch with Bishop Raymond Field on the occasion of the awarding of a Bene Merenti Medal to Paddy at the Pontifical College, Maynooth in recognition of his outstanding service as Sacristan to the Order of Malta Ireland for over 30 years. Paddy joined the Order in 1946 and is also current Sacristan in our Church.
DENIS DWYER
Denis Dwyer was another of our parishioners who was awarded the Bene Merenti Medal from Pope John Paul 11 in 1997 for services to the community. Denis was very active in the parish of Coolock/Raheny in his early days and worked tirelessly fund raising for the building of St. Brigid’s Church, Killester. Later when he moved to live in Raheny, he continued his work for the church, business and many community projects and associations. He was also a staunch member of the Knights of Malta and was a former Director of the Ambulance Corps.
Denis Dwyer’s
Bene Merenti Medal
and Certificate
JOE O’MEARA
Joe O’Meara served as Sacristan to Our Lady Mother of Divine Grace Church, Raheny for many years. On the 23rd January 1988 he accepted the Bene Merenti Medal on behalf of the volunteer workers in the church to celebrate the Silver Jubliee of the church.
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