Patrick Diggins

Agnes, Laura, Emma and Rowena,
We sympathise with you following Pat’s death. He is of course an unspeakable loss to his family. To those of us working in education and in continuing professional development in Ireland in the last forty years Pat has been an inspiration, a mentor and a supporter.
Pat dreamed of processes in education that did not exist and asked ‘why not’. He innovated at the periphery knowing that in time the establishment would need to bring his ideas to the centre of the stage. His groundbreaking work in School Planning, subsequently a 'sine qua non' for the establishment is just one example of his ingenuity.
Pat was and he would like to be seen as Starratt’s ‘Socratic gadfly’, irritating, emboldening and ultimately steering the establishment towards innovative and modern ways of leading in education.
He would have been proud of the moving, erudite and deserved tributes paid to him by Laura and Emma at his funeral Mass. We echo their sentiments.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

We offer our sincere sympathy to Agnes, Laura, Emma and Rowena on the death of your beloved Pat, who inspired educators all over Ireland and who was so supportive of those establishing Teacher and Education Centres throughout the whole country.
Go ndéana Dia grásta ar a anam uasal

On behalf of CESI, I would like to extend sincere condolences to the Diggins family on the passing of Pat. As Director of Drumcondra Education Centre he gave generously his support and encouragement, in a friendly and sincere manner, to our members. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

On behalf of the Board of Management of St Brendans BNS, Artane, I would like to offer our most sincere condolences to the Diggins family on the recent passing of Patrick. May he Rest In Peace

Deepest sympathy to Agnes,Rowena,Laura,Emma and the Diggins family on the passing of your beloved Pat.May his gentle soul Rest In Peace.

Our very deepest sympathy to Agnes and all the Diggins family on the the death of Pat. May he Rest in Peace

I was so sorry to hear of Pat's passing and wish to convey condolences to the Diggins family. Pat was a wonderful mentor in his role as Director of Drumcondra Education Centre and set me along a path of involvement in various educational initiatives at an early stage in my career. I am forever grateful for his encouragement and support. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Sincere condolences to all Pat's family and to Kieran and the extended Diggins family on your sad loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Ar dheis Dé go raimh a anam dílis.

Agnes and family, I am so sorry to hear of Pat's death. He was a lovely man and I have great memories of our chats over the years in the old days in Portmarnock. Thinking of you. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Kay Walsh, Portmarnock.

Sincere sympathy to Agnes and all the Diggins family. Pat was a visionary who fostered teacher professional development during his directorship of Drumcondra Education Centre. His support of SDPS over many years helped school communities to develop and grow in their professionalism.

May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to the Diggins family on their sad loss. Pat made a significant contribution to Irish Education during his time in the Drumcondra Education Centre.
A personal memory of Pat apart from working with him in the Centre was the time in 1959 or 1960 when he arrived to take up a position in the village of Longwood as principal of the National School, where he was admired and greatly respected in his time there.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Tom Raleigh late of Longwood, now Drumcondra

Sincere condolences to AGNES and all THE DIGGINS FAMILY,

on the sad passing of PATRICK. His contribution to IRISH

EDUCATION has been significant down the years. His

pioneering work in THE DRUMCONDRA EDUCATION CENTRE

has been outstanding;- giving school communities great support

and affirmation. A true gentleman and always a smile. May he

Rest In Peace . Suaimhneas sioraí dá anam

Francis and Mandy O Daly,
Ardilaun,
Portmarnock.

Our deepest sympathy to you Agnes and family on Pat’s death.

Deepest sympathies to Agnes and The Diggins Family on the sad passing of Pat. He was an outstanding educationalist and totally lacking in self projection. Pat had a great ability to enable people with fresh ideas to professionally flourish. When the Transition Year was made widely available in post primary schools he set up support service in the Drumcondra Education Center for TY coordinators and subject teachers in North Dublin. The initiative was a great success and later became the model for the national Transition Year Support Team put in place by the Department of Education. He was also a thorough gentleman.. May he be shinning example to others.

I offer my sincere condolences to Pat's family. He was a wise and inspirational leader in education, both in the Education Centre and as Chair of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. May he rest in peace.

Laura, I am sure all these wonderful words about your dad will comfort you and your family.He was an inspiration,warm and kind.He was so proud of you and your sisters.My deepest sympathy to all of you.
Kate O Neill
(St.Mary's Baldoyle)

Sincere sympathy to Agnes and the Diggins Family on Pat's passing. Good memories of Pat from his days in Baldoyle. Sympathy also to Pat's sister Maura, a former work colleague from our working days in Cadburys.

My deepest sympathy to Agnes and family on the death of Pat. He was a wonderful charming talented man and he richly deserves all the tributes for his role in Education. May he rest in peace. Nora.

We send our sincere condolences to you Agnes and to all the family at this sad time. Pat was a true gentleman and an inspirational leader in Drumcondra Teachers' Centre. Suaibhneas síorraí dá anam uasal. Vincent and Muireann Conway

Sincere sympathy to the Diggins family on the death of Pat. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Diggins family on the sad passing of Patrick. May he Rest in Peace

Condolences to Anges Laura Emma & Rowena. Sorry to hear this sad news. May Pat rest in peace.

Deepest sympathies to Agnes and The Diggins Family on the sad passing of Pat.

I had many dealings with Pat over the years in his role at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra and my long friendship with the Diggins Family over the last fifty years.

RIP

Condolences to Agnes and all the Diggins Family. Pat was an accomplished and inspiring teacher educator, a wonderful colleague, and a real gentleman. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

deepest sympathy Agnes and family on the sad passing of Pat RIP- our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time

Deepest sympathy to Joe Breda and all the Diggins family on Pats passing May he rest in peace

My condolences to the Diggins family on your loss. When, in 1993, the Department of Education decided to mainstream the Transition Year Programme, they located the operational heart in Drumcondra Education Centre. Pat was a warm, generous and creative host and his quiet and solid support for the project was very significant. It was great to see him again at a TY reunion event in 2019 when his passion for and commitment to high quality educational experiences for young people was still very evident. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to all the Diggin Family

It is with great sadness that we learned of the sad passing of Pat to his eternal reward. Our sincere sympathy to you Agnes and your family at this most difficult time. He was a beacon in Irish education at a time when leadership was most needed. He was at least thirty years ahead of his time in his understanding of leadership and delivery of education. He made a lasting impression on all who were lucky enough to come in contact with him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

I remember Pat as a man who created the space (literal and otherwise) for the next generation of teacher to shine. I express my deepest sympathy to the Diggins family on Pat’s passing.

Agnes and family. Our sincere condolences on the death of Pat. He was a real gentleman. May he rest in peace.

My sincere sympathy to all of the Diggins family on the death of Patrick. He was one of the best teachers I ever had in Santa Sabina .He taught us in our first year in secondary school and was inspirational - a wise and enlightened educator who helped each of us believe that we could achieve whatever we set our minds to . May he rest in peace .

Condolences to Agnes and family on the passing of Pat. Thinking of you all.

My deepest sympathy to you Agnes and all the Diggins family on the death of Pat.
His contribution to Irish Education was of the first order.
He rests in peace.

Comhbhrón ó chroí le teaghlach Diggins.

To me, Patrick Diggins was, is & always will be a Role Model.
His charismatic personality & humanity touched me & all who were charmed to have experienced his passion for innovative teaching & his ever-fun & friendship at Santa Sabina, Sutton.

Each & every chance encounter was always a pleasure & there were so many random moments in time that always made a positive difference, always connecting with an infectious smile that buoyed a day.

Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.
Síocháin & Alleluia go deo Mr. Diggins.

Le comhbhhrón,
Máire.
⚓

Deepest sympathy to Gerry and all the Diggins family on the death of Pat . He was a warm and generous professional , a great support to Principals and teachers in his work in Drumcondra. I studied under him back in 1983 and went from there into Ed. Management. He inspired me to move in that direction. RIP

My sympathy to Agnes, daughters and the extended Diggins family including my dear friend Joe, on the sad death of Pat. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincere sympathy to Agnes, Laura, Emma, Rowena all Pat's family.
I have great memories of the many happy years I worked in DEC under Pat's direction and trust.
'Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h'anam dílis'

Deepest sympathy to the Diggins family on the sad passing of Paddy. Rest in Peace

To Agnes, and all the family, we extend our sincere condolences on the death of Pat. I remember him as a wonderfully creative colleague in St Mary’s Baldoyle, and subsequently a real innovator and support to all of as educators during his tenure in the Teachers Centre. May he rest in peace. Anne & Peter Gilleran

Sincere condolences to the Diggins family on the sad passing of Pat. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

To Agnes & family we extend our deepest sympathy. Thank you PB for your exceptional service to the Teacher/Education Centre movement and its ripples of influence. So easy to befriend a most cherished elder statesman. A commanding influence in self-less transparent leadership. A gentleman who exemplified the word 'gentle'.
Person-centred always, your steadfast approach, insight and foresight awed us. In the rich depths of the person you saw the greatest resource for change. My abiding memory of you was the humility of your quoted words 'if we can move one grain of sand from one beach to another in our lifetime we will have done enough'. The sweet bed of your heaven to you Pat.

Loughrea, Co. Galway.

Sincerest condolences to Pat's extended family. Thinking of you all at this sad time.

Sincerest sympathy on the death of Pat to Agnes,Laura, Emma , Rowena , Sean, Kieran, Ger, Joe and Maura. Today's Mass and send off was beautiful and poignant. My first year's teaching was with Pat in Rutland Street . I was deeply impressed by his teaching ability and motivational skills. May he rest in peace.

Agnes and family. Our sincere condolences on the death of Pat. He was a real gentleman. He would always greet you with a smile. It was lovely to know Pat. May he rest in peace.

May Pat Rest In Peace.. Le comhbhrón,

I was saddened to hear of Pat's death. My thoughts are with his family. Pat's legacy lives on. He was an inspirational leader, who generously shared his expertise. His contribution to education was immense. Not only was he a passionate educator, he was also a true gentleman. May he rest in peace.

Comhbhrón ó chroí leis an teaghlach uilig ar bhás Pat.

I was saddened to hear of Pats death, a gentleman in every way. To Agnes and family I offer my sincere condolences. May Pat now rest peacefully among Angels and Saints in his Heavenly home.

Sincerest condolences Agnes and family. Pat was such a fine gentleman always willing to help in any situation A great listener .a privilege to have known and worked with him for many years. . May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to all Pats family on your great loss. Fond memories. May Pats gentle soul Rest in Peace. Ag smaoineamh oraibh.

Deepest sympathies to Agnes, Laura, Emma and Rowena on the sad passing of Pat. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Sincere condolences to the Diggins family on their sad loss. Pat was a wonderful support to principals and their schools at a time when such sources were hard to find. He was unfailingly courteous and generous with his time and considerable expertise and many, including myself, benefitted greatly from his insights on school management and leadership.

Agnes and Family
Condolences on the sad loss of Pat. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Diggins family on the passing of Pat.
I first met him on the T.C.D. MSt. course and really appreciated his
great help, his encouragement and always, his wise advice.

My sincerest condolences to Agnes and family on Pat's death

Very saddened to learn of the passing of a dear friend and colleague from the formative years of the Teacher Centre Movement. Oideachasóir den scoth, ceannródaí is fear séimh, lách, cineálta. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Sincere sympathy to Agnes and all the family on your great loss. Pat brought leadership, good humour and respect for others to all his endeavours and he carried his learning and undoubted talents with such ease. As the first Chair of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, Pat made a unique contribution to the Trust’s development as he did with so many other initiatives in education.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal

Is trua liom go mór cailliúint Phádraig, fear deas ábalta, oideachasóir den scoth.
Dia lena anam dílis ar Neamh.

Sincere sympathy to all the Diggins family on Pat's death.

Heartfelt sympathy to Agnes and the Diggins family on Pat's death. May he rest in eternal peace.

I am saddened to hear of his passing and remember with deep appreciation his vision and relentless contribution to Education, most especially Teacher Education.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge his support on a personal level.

Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas na bhFlaitheas dó. Is boichte an saol in' éagmais.