RIP Brother Noel O’Halloran

17 Jan 2018

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brother Noel O’Halloran, former Headmaster of St. Mary’s College, who has passed away peacefully at the age of 94.

Brother O’Halloran started his teaching career at St. Edward’s College where he taught English from 1948 until 1953. He then moved to St. Anselm’s where he was Deputy to Brother Ambrose from 1953 to 1959. He was then Headmaster and Superior at St. Anselm’s from 1959 to 1965 and subsequently succeeded Brother Ambrose as Headmaster of John Rigby in Wigan where he served for seven years.

He became Headmaster of St. Mary’s College in 1972 and served for 15 years, retiring in his Golden Jubilee year of 1987. Brother O’Halloran was a great advocate of the Direct Grant system and when it was terminated by the Wilson Government it was Brother O’Halloran who moved St. Mary’s College into the Independent Sector in 1976.

A man of great Faith with a passion for fishing, he spent many years at St. Anselm’s in his retirement before moving to Woodeaves, the Brothers’ main residence in the UK.

Brother O’Halloran was one of the last members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers to be appointed Headmaster of St. Mary’s College. As one of our Centenary Fund Patrons, he continued to support St. Mary’s well into his retirement and we were honoured to welcome him as our guest at the 2016 Friends of St. Mary’s ‘Back to School’ Reunion Dinner, which took place in the O’Halloran Hall at St. Mary’s College that is named in his honour.

We are thankful for the wonderful contribution made by Brother O’Halloran over many years and ask you to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.