James H. (Seamus) McPhillips

My deepest sympathy to Eithne and Fidelma. Seamus was an inspirational principal in St MacDaras. He held us to a higher standard while being a paragon of fairness and respect. He will be missed.

Sincere sympathies to all the family on the loss of Seamus .May he RIP
Former colleague 1992-2005
Mary Doyle

Fidelma, sending our deepest sympathies to you and your Mum at this sad time. We have such fond memories of meeting your Father at our catch-ups in London and Oxford. You are in our thoughts. We will see you later in the Summer.
May he rest in peace.

James, Sophia, Hannah & Nicholas,
Cambridgeshire, UK

Sincere sympathy on the death of Mr McPhillips. A great principle and a true gentleman. May he Rest In Peace.

Sincere condolences to Eithne, Fidelma and extended families on the sad and sudden passing of Mr. McPhillips. I have great memories of St Mac Daras. I joined St Mac Dara's in 5th year and found the pupils and staff very welcoming. Mr McPhillips was firm and fair and ran a very disciplined community college with
great staff - Mr O Shea as vice principal and teachers Mr Ryan and Mr Kingston who later were to be Principal.

You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Seamus, an inspirational,generous and true friend for so many years. A dedicated professional. A fount of knowledge. Wonderful company. We shall miss you. Heartfelt sympathy to Eithne and Fidelma.

Deepest sympathy to Eithne, Fidelma and extended Family on the sad passing of Seamus, my former Principal and teaching colleague in Dundrum Vocational School. A unique educator who inspired students and teachers alike. May he rest in peace.

So sorry to only hear now Seamus's passing, he left Greenhills College when I arrived in 1978, and he was simply a "legend" always helpful and kind, always willing to make time to talk and chat, he did so much work for us all, everyone who met him was left with a lasting impression. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers. RIP

Leaba imeasc na Naomh go raibh aige.
Beannacht De lena anam uasal
Fathach fir .

Deepest sympathies to Mr. McPhillips’ family. As a past pupil, I have very fond memories of my time in St. Mac Dara’s, with Mr. McPhillips as principal , I had the pleasure of attending the school and during my summer holidays i enjoyed helping the caretaker cut the grass and helping out in the summer . I even got asked to paint the basketball court in the summer it kept me busy during that time I thoroughly enjoyed it may he Rest In Peace.

I only heard today the sad news that Seamus had died. May he rest in peace. Seamus always had a warm welcome for the visitor and St Mac Dara's was a vibrant school to visit. In our last conversation his lifelong passion for education was still very evident. My condolences to his family, friends and former colleagues and students.

Sincerest condolences to the McPhillips family on the passing of Seamus. What an immense loss. He was a great character. He was an inspired leader. I was lucky enough to have been the second family member that he mentored through the H-Dip in St.Mac Daras CC. He was the gentle guiding hand through the process. I’m grateful for all that I learned from him. He was truly respected by staff and students alike. He created a school -that was ahead of it’s time and challenged opinions on CC’s. He was incredibly proud of his school and all who spent their days in it.
May he rest in peace.

Very sadden to hear this news today. Deepest condolences to all the family on the sudden passing of Seamus. May his soul rest in peace .

Mick Duff

I was so sorry ,and shocked,to learn ,only today, of the passing of Seamus who was such a great man and achieved so much in our community.....I offer my deepest sympathy to his family with an assurance of my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time...May Seamus rest in peace

Deepest sympathy to Michael and Anne and the McPhillips Family on the passing of Seamus. May he rest in peace

I have often been described as 'Firm but Fair' An accolade I learnt from the firmest but fairest that was Mr Mac Phillips. A true loss

Séamus was an innovative and passionate founding Principal, whose vision for a Community College was realized in St. Mac Dara's Community College, Templeogue. He inspired staff and students to take leadership roles and to look ahead, "ar aghaidh", with confidence and positivity.

On behalf of the council and on my own behalf I wish to offer sincere sympathy to Eithne, Fidelma and the wider family on the death of dear Seamus. He supported and assisted Eithne as church florist for over 30 years. The parishioners and Harold’s Cross community will miss him very much. He was always a joy to meet. May his gentle soul rest with the Lord. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.

Deepest sympathy to the McPhillips family on the death of Seamus . As a work colleague , an educator and a historian, Seamus had a positive influence on the lives of so many and will always be remembered with great fondness . Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís .

Deepest Sympathy to Seamus wife Eithne and daugher Fidelma on the death of there husband and father Seamus, also to Michael and family and Kathleen and family on the death of your brother Seamus, May he rest in peace

We extend our condolences to the McPhillips family at this sad time. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathies to Eithne and Fidelma on the passing of Mr McPhillips. He was a great educator with a deep sense of fairness and justice and an ability to see potential in everyone. He will be remembered fondly. May he Rest In Peace. (Past pupil, St Mac Dara's CC).

So sorry Eithne and Fidelma on hearing the very sad news Rip Seamus.

Deepest sympathy to Eithna Fidelma Michael and Kathleen and extended family on the passing of James may he rest in peace

Sincere and heartfelt condolence to Michael and family, Kathleen and family on the sudden passing of your Brother Seamus.
Not forgetting his grieving Wife and Daughter. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Deepest sympathies to Mr. McPhillips’ family. As a past pupil, I have very fond memories of my time in St. Mac Dara’s, with Mr. McPhillips as principal. Rest in peace.

To Seamus Wife and Daughter Michael and all the McPhillips family my deepest sympathy on the death of Seamus thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time may his soul rest in peace
Brigid McArdle
Clontarf and Monaghan

Deepest sympathy to Eithne & Fidelma. Very sad to hear of Mr McPhillips passing.. he was wonderful man & amazing principal.
I fondly recall his kindness & support, he & his team gave me during Frances’s funeral.

Rest in peace Seamus.

Elizabeth and I extend our sincere condolences to the family of Seamus McPhillips, our near neighbour and good friend on Clareville Road. We are very sorry for your loss, Eithne and Fidelma., Seamus was a learned and gentle soul. May he rest in peace.
BLUEBELLS FOR LOVE
There will be bluebells growing under the big trees
And you will be there and I will be there in May;
For some other reason we both will have to delay
the evening in Dunshaughlin ... Patrick Kavanagh

Our sincere sympathy to the family of Mr. Mc Phillips.
My three adult children attended St. Mac Dara's Community College under his leadership and they flourished at school .

May he rest in peace .

The Board members of St. Kevins CC wish to extend their deepest sympathy at this very sad time. We have benefited greatly from his vast experience and wisdom over a long number of years. We will miss him greatly.

Deepest sympathy to Eithne wife Fidelma daughter, sister Kathleen brother Michael,
May Seamus's gentle soul rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy Fidelma, so sorry for your loss x

Sincere sympathy to the family of Mr Mc Phillips. I had the privilege of completing my teacher training in St Mac Dara's. What an education I received. Seamus was an outstanding leader. He had the ability to inspire everyone by showing an interest in what they were doing.
He never lost his love of Monaghan. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.

My sincere sympathy to the family of Mr McPhillips. I graduated from St. Mac Daras in 1988. Mr Mc Phillips created a great school that was like no other. He had his finger on the pulse of everything happening in the school and knew every student by name. And I think he knew what we were thinking before we had the thought ourselves. He was a passionate teacher of history with high expectations of his students. He brought us to Paris , Russia and Sherkin Island. Time -of-our -lives ! and he created that environment for us to thrive in . Rest in peace.

Sincere sympathies to Eithne & Fidelma on the passing of Seamus (will always be Mr McPhillips), gentle giant who saw potential in everyone. The best person to lead St Mac Dara’s from the start and a very tough act for anyone to follow. Susan O’Grady past pupil St Mac Dara’s

My deepest sympathies to Eithne, Fidelma and wider family on the sad passing of Seamus. He was always very supportive of me and the Engineering Department in St.Dara's C.C.
May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathies to the McPhillips family on the sudden passing of Mr McPhillips. He will be long remembered as a dedicated school principal, by families such as ours, in Willington parish and surrounding parishes in Templeogue, for providing such a high standard of education for all.
In the early days of St Mac Dara's he and his group of diverse and talented teachers left no pupil behind in a school that he fostered as a model for co-ed education. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis

My sincere sympathy to his wife Eithne daughter Fidelma, sister Kathleen and brother
Michael on the passing of Seamus. On the 19th of April, 1961 Seamus and myself
joined An Garda Siochana. During our training period I can clearly recall his sense
of enthusiasm energy and good humour with all his colleagues and I am not
surprised that he was so successful in his second chosen career in education.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy on the death of Seamus to you all. Seamus was a great teacher and principal . He was also very committed to the welfare of teachers and a staunch member of the TUI. May he rest in peace

My deepest sympathy to Seamus' family at this time. May he rest in peace.

Sad to hear of Seamus’s Passing! A dynamic Gentleman to work with! Sympathy to all his family!

Sincere sympathy to Eithne, Fidelma,Micheal ,Ann ,Kathleen & the extended Mc Phillips family on the death of Seamus May he soul rest in eternal peace.

My thoughts are with Eithne and Fidelma at this time. I was saddened to learn of the passing of Mr McPhillips. May he rest in peace. Good memories over the years in Mac Daras...

We were sad to hear that Seamus McPhillips has died Our sympathy to his wife Eithne and daughter Fidelma we first met Seamus during the early days of St Mac Daras Three of our children were there while he was principal and thrived under his guidance He was a brilliant leader

Sincere smypathy and condolences to Eithne, Fildelma, and all the families ,on the passing of Mr.McPhillips. He was a wonderful Prinpical, and role model to us.May he rest in peace.

I am so sorry to hear the news of Mr McPhillips passing. I have great memories of my years in St Mac Dara's and learnt so much there while also having fun. It always amazed me how Mr McPhillips knew the names of every student in the school and was always so professional and friendly. RIP to a great man and leader.

Dear Eithne & Fidelma,
It was a deep sense of sadness that I read of Seamus’s sad passing; may he rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing. Seamus was a man who truly held the courage of his convictions and honoured his profession for forty years. He was deeply committed to providing the very best education to all of those who were entrusted to his care as a teacher and Principal.
He was, “As Constant as the Northern Star”.
John Cronin – Castleknock Community College

My deepest heartfelt condolences to Eithne, Fidelma, family and friends . A scholar, gentleman, and a loving man. You will be missed Maestro.

Dear Eithne and Fidelma I’m so sorry to hear of Seamus's passing, thinking of all the good memories I had of him growing up. My thoughts are with you both x

So sorry Eithne and Fidelma on hearing the very sad news Rip Seamus.

Heartfelt condolence to Eithne, Fidelma, the Brady and wider family on the sudden death of Seamus. I spent eight very happy years on his staff. He made me feel very welcome from the voluntary sector and was hugely supportive in my work as a Rel. Ed. teacher. He was a brilliant educator and headmaster,very committed to both staff and students alike,a visionary with a keen sense of justice and impartiality.. The V.E.C./Dublin E.T.B. Can be very proud of his pioneering work. I was privileged to work with him..May your good kind deeds go before you Seamus. Rest In Peace.

Dear Eithne and Fidelma, my sincere condolences to you both. I am very saddened to hear of Seamus’s passing. May he rest in peace.

Fidelma and Mrs McPhillips, I’m so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you both. Rhona

Sincere sympathy to all families. Rest in Peace.

Deepest sympathies Eithne and Fidelma on your terrible loss.

Seamus was a father to us all, teachers and students. Larger than life, a great patriot and teacher, he was utterly devoted to his pupils.

I owe him an enormous debt: he gave me my first job, he was a mentor, a driver, and a loyal friend.

He created at St MacDaras Community College a new model of school which set a standard for the system.

We loved him and learned from him.

Daire Keogh
President, Dublin City University.

Sincere condolences on the sudden passing of Mr. Mc Phillips. He was one of a kind. He cared about St. Mac Dara's and he established an atmosphere of respect in the school. He showed an interest in each and every pupil. A man of character. May he rest in peace.

My deepest sympathy to Eithne and Fidelma. May Seamus rest in peace.

My deepest sympathy to Eithne and Fidelma. May Seamus rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy on the passing of Seamus to his wife and daughter.To Kathleen Michael Anne and families and the Moran family .. May he rest in peace.