Niamh Bhreathnach

Our deepest condolences on the death of Niamh. The country and the children.past and future owe her a great debt of gratutude

Tom & family - sincere sympathy on the passing of Niamh. RIP.

My condolences to Tom and family.
I was fortunate to work with Tom in the Dept of Transport. I am sure he is heartened by the many warm tributes paid to her as a reforming Minister.
My late father, Edmond Daly, worked with Niamh in St Audoen’s national school. Niamh acknowledged that her experience there inspired her actions and initiatives as Minister.
May she rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to the Ferris & Bhreathnach families. My father, Liam Kavanagh, spoke highly of his Labour colleague. May she rest in peace.

Brón mór as ucht bás Niamh. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.

My deepest sympathies to you Tom and all the family on your great loss.

D. O'Malley allowed my generation get a free secondary education, meaning I was first of my family to get chance at 3rd level.
Niamh Breathnach gave my children the opportunity to attend 3rd level. Her support through TY, LCA etc of different talents in education is indeed a lasting legacy.Without doubt The outstanding Minister in any Irish Government of her generation and those who have followed to this day.
Go raibh maith agat Minister, Codládh samh duit.

Deepest condolences to Tom and all the family on your great loss . Ireland has lost a pioneering and reforming individual and Niamh will be greatly missed . With our very best wishes and deep sympathy . Alan and Caroline Gray .

To dear Tom and family, I want to express my sadness on hearing of Niamh's untimely death. Niamh was always so interested and interesting to meet-up with. Her contribution to public life especially to the education sector was huge and her memory will live on through the many changes that she brought about. I'm remembering with great fondness our visit to Rome all those years ago. Take good care of yourselves at this difficult time.

Deepest sympathies to Tom, Cliodhna, MacDara and the extended family on the sad passing of Niamh. May she rest in peace.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam

Sincere sympathy to the Ferris family on the sad passing of Niamh. She was an education visionary whose enduring legacy can truly be described as 'monumentum aere perennius'....a monument more lasting than bronze. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann. Suaimhneas agus solas síoraí dá hanam uasal.

RIP. Left a magnificent legacy in education. As someone who did transition year and benefited from free college fees Niamh is probably the politician who had the biggest effect on my life.

Sincere condolences to the Bhreathnach and Ferris families at this sad time.
I can still remember the day a teacher in my DEIS school announced that Minister Bhreathnach had abolished 3rd level tuition fees. A few years later most of my class and about half of our year went on to 3rd level, choosing our paths based on interest and abilities rather than what we could afford. Her legacy cannot be overestimated. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Tom I want to offer you and your family my sincere sympathy on the death of Niamh .
She certainly made a great impact in her time in politics.
I remember with pleasure the times I spent in her company
Brian Fennell

I would like to share my condolences with you all. I regret I never meet your mother/wife as I would have liked to thank her personally. I have always been grateful for her vision and committment. I did my Leaving Cert in 2016 and I would not have gone to University without her initiative. I remember clearly the day it was announced and how my world opened and the course I had thought I would never be able attend was then an option. I went on to work in Government, EU, World Bank and now I lead a global human rights NGO. I do not think I would have done any of this without her initiative. It was remarkable for many of us., and certainly changed the path of my life. I am thinking of her with deepest respect today, Olive Moore

My sympathies to Niamh's husband and family. I want to pay my respects to a warm and humorous colleague on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, from a different political party, but who showed a sound common sense and practicality, and whose heart was clearly in the right place, always trying to improve life for those who needed it. She brooked no nonsense, but also served in local government with a sense of egalitarianism and an ability not to prejudge. Her political legacy is incontestable, and her humanity obvious. She will be missed.

Comhbhrón ó chroí le Tom, Cliodhna agus Macdara ar bhás Niamh, bean stuama, dhíograiseach, ghealgháireach a shaothraigh go dian ar son phobal na hÉireann.
Suaimhneas síoraí di.

Our deepest sympathy to Tom, Cliodhna and Macdara. We always admired Niamh's energy and commitment and, like so many others, are so grateful for her remarkable legacy to our education system. She was an inspiration. Suaimhneas siorai di.

Very sorry to hear of Niamh’s passing & condolences to Tom, Cliodhna, Macdara & all the family. Niamh was a very pleasant & supportive colleague & greatly helped our students, parents and teachers during her time as Minister for Education. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Sincere condolences

Deepest sympathy to Tom and family on the death of Niamh. A truly wonderful woman as I knew her from the time we sat together in the Froebel College! She left us, the country, a great legacy in Education. You must all be heartbroken, I am too, she went too soon. May she rest in peace. You are all in my prayers.

Dearest condolences Tom and family on your loss.
Daniel O'Connor
Cabinet Making and Carpentry

Dearest Cliodhna,
I was so deeply sorry to hear of your wonderful Mum's passing. I remember you speaking of her with such pride and warmth. Her contribution in public service was outstanding. I am sure you, your Dad, your brother and all the family treasured her so much - and always will.

May she rest in peace and shower you all with her blessings from above.

Macdara and family, our deepest sympathies at this sad time.

Cliodhna - so very sorry to hear of the passing of your great mum. Condolences to all your family.

Ní imithe uainn ach romhainn.

Déanaim comhbhrón le Tom agus an clann agus gaolta ar bhás Niamh ionúin leo. Duine dílis agus ionraic. May she rest in peace in the Kingdom of God.

Our sincere condolences to Tom and family on the loss of Niamh. May she rest in peace.

Dear Tom I was so sad to hear of the death of your beloved Niamh and I send you,your children,grandchildren and the extended family and friends my sincere condolences and prayers.Niamh and I grew up in blackrock,went to the same school in blackrock, and our paths crossed many times over the years.rest in peace Niamh.

Condolences to the family on the death of your beloved Niamh. I didn’t know Niamh but she changed my life through the abolishment of third level fees, allowing me to be the first in my family to go to third level and complete my degree and PhD. May she rest in Peace.

We are thinking and praying for you Cliodhna, Tom and Macdara at this very sad time. Fond memories of her visit to see us in Sligo. May she Rest In Peace

Deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Niamh - a wonderful neighbour for very many years.

May she rest in eternal peace.

Our deepest sympathy to Tom and family on the sad passing of Niamh. May she rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to all the family on the death of Niamh.
May she Rest In Peace.

Sincere sympathy to Tom and family on Niamh’s death.I was very sorry to hear of it. May she rest in peace

Condolences to the family in your bereavement on the death of your beloved Niamh. She was a highly respected member of Dublin County Council at the beginning of her outstanding political career. May she rest in Peace.

So very sorry to hear about the passing of Niamh. She was always so kind and supportive of innovative education initiatives. She was very supportive of the STORY Project for schools at Shannon Heritage, back in the 90s/2000. Wonderful person and my sympathies to her family.

My sincere sympathies to Tom and all the family at this sad time for you all. May Niamh rest in peace.

Condolences to Bhreathnach family .She was a brilliant minister who with our parish priest fr Forde gave us a wonderful new school when everyone else failed

So sorry to hear of Niamh’s death. She will be sadly missed. She was a very vibrant member of Class 66 in the Froebel college. Her contribution to education will be remembered. My deepest sympathies to Tom and family

My deepest sympathy to you Tom, Cliodhna, Macdara and family, on the sad passing of Niamh.

It was never “if” it was “how” with Niamh. She has made an outstanding impact on so many lives - someone I feel extremely blessed to have known.

She will be sorely missed.

May she rest in peace.

Tom, my deepest sympathies to you and your family on the sad passing of your beloved wife Niamh. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

My condolences and deepest sympathy to Tom,Cliodhna,Macdara and Niamh's extended family on her sad passing.May she rest in peace.

My deepest sympathies to Tom and family. May she Rest in Peace.

My sincere sympathies to Tom, Cliodhna, Macdara on Niamh’s passing. My sympathies also to her wider family and many friends.

Niamh was a 'change-maker', a true inspiration to all of us working to promote access and equality for all in education.

Niamh's inspired vision and legacy as Education Minister has the paved the way for positive change for the future of Ireland's inclusion, diversity and empowerment of all learners.

May she Rest in Peace. Thank you Niamh.

Our sincere sympathies to Tom, Cliodhna, Macdara and members of the extended family following Niamh’s passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.

Deepest sympathy to Tom, Cliodhna and Macdara on Niamh's sad passing. May she rest I peace.

Sorry to hear of the passing of my former Blackrock colleague.

Niamh was a sincere and genuine person who never took herself too seriously, she was always open to finding solutions. She will be missed.

My sympathies to Tom and family on their loss.

Barry

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Namh’s family on her sad and untimely passing. In abolishing third level tuition fees she acknowledged the difficulty of PAYE parents in trying to fund their children’s further education and for this we have been and always will be grateful. Unfortunately as we live down the country we were not in a position to show support at the ballot box and we were very sad when she lost her seat. She may only have been in government for a short time but she left a lasting legacy in education. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

Tom and family, on behalf of all in CILT Ireland sincere sympathies to you on the sad loss of your dear wife and mother.

Deepest sympathy to Tom and his family, to the Breathnach family on Niamh’s sad passing . Niamh was a very committed member of our party and made an enormous contribution to Women’s rights and to addressing disadvantage in Education. Her family should be very proud of her legacy in Irish public affairs.May her gentle soul rest in peace.

My condolences to Tom, Cliodhna, Macdara and to all who loved Niamh. I am proud to have campaigned for Niamh and will never forget her commitment, kindness and great sense of humour. I have fond memories of the December 1989 visit to the European Parliament with Niamh and the various campaigns including the one which succeeded in electing her to the Dáil, following which she was appointed Minister for Education and the amazing campaign which succeeded in electing Mary Robinson the first woman President of Ireland,

Deepest sympathies to Cliodhna and family on the very sad and sudden loss of your beloved Mum. She will be greatly missed, may the wonderful memories and the warm and generous appreciation of her immense contribution and personal qualities bring you comfort in the days ahead. My own abiding memory is of her arrival to the count centre in Dun Laoghaire in 1992. She changed so many lives for the better. May she rest in peace.

Derek and Mary West would like to express to the Ferris family their sympathy on the death of Niamh.
I knew her for a long time, both as Principal (1990 - 2006) and as a long-time member of NAPD. She was a dedicated member of DunLaoghaire-Rathdown Council and a superb Minister for Education. She will be greatly missed and died far too young.

Sincere sympathies to the Bhreathnach and Ferris families on the passing of Niamh. We were delighted to have her and her family at the opening of the summer school last July. May she rest in peace.

Our sincere sympathies to Tom, Cliodhna & Macdara, and Niamh’s extended family and friends.

Niamh was passionate about education; she deeply understood our school and the many schools like ours, leading the way for educational equity. She leaves a tremendous and lasting legacy.

She was great at keeping in touch with St Audoen’s and always displayed such compassion, respect and hope for our community. We were delighted to welcome her back recently, for a lovely and very meaningful visit.

Sending love from past & present friends on Cook Street. Rest in Peace Niamh.

I went with Niamh to her Sion Hill graduation Dress dance back in the day at the Gresham. We were close friends for several years but lost touch when I left for Canada in 1967. She was a beautiful lady with a beautiful sense of humour and an infectious laugh. My condolences to Tom and the family including her siblings. I know the hurt you feel Tom, as I lost my own wife in 2018. God Bless you all and may He reward her in Heaven for the good she did on earth. Rest in Peace Niamh, job well done!

Our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Ferris family on the passing of Niamh.
In grateful appreciation of all her work for Irish education and especially her work and support of St Joseph’s Community College, Kilkee. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

Deepest condolences to the family of Niamh Bhreathnach.I taught in a Dublin secondary school for over forty years and without a doubt she was the best minister of education we had.May she rest in peace

Deepest sympathy to Tom and family and to all the Breathnach girls.
I knew Niamh through her Dad Brendan and through the Labour Party. She was a wonderful Member of Labour and a great Minister for Education. Ar dheis De go ramh a hanam dhilis