Sarah Smyth

I was so sad to hear about Sarah’s passing. We first met in January 1995 when worked in the Russian Department. I will never forget Sarah’s kindness, encouragement and warmth. She always had time for a chat anytime we met, and was so welcoming when I returned to Trinity in 2008. She was a wonderful lady who has left an indelible mark on my life, and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Sarah's untimely death. I knew her as a student and colleague, and knew even more of her reputation. She lived a very full life, and had a positive influence on so many people. I am sure she will be resting in peace now.

Sincere condolences to Sarah's family and friends. She was one of a kind and will be very much missed by all who were fortunate enough to meet her.

Mo chomhbhrón lena muintir. Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí ar a hanam uasal.

I am truly so sad to learn of Sarah’s passing - I met Sarah when we worked together on the steering committee of the Post Primary Languages Initiative and she was such a powerful advocate, a font of wisdom and knowledge and a very kind person… it was my privilege to have known her. My sincere condolences to her family and friends. 🌹

My deepest sympathies to Sarah's family, friends, colleagues, and many students who mourn her and will endeavour to uphold her exceptional legacy. May she rest in eternal peace.

Sincere sympathy to Sarah's family, colleagues and friends. She was an indefatigable champion of literature and translation. The Trinity Centre for Literary Translation (now TCLCT) would not have become a reality without her persistence, persuasion, pragmatism and good humour. As one of many freelance literary translators who crossed paths with her, I am enormously grateful to Sarah. Her legacy will live on. May she rest in peace.

Sarah was such a gentle, astute leader. She was so generous with her time and her expertise and really modelled what a good academic life could look like. Her kindness and good humour were always visible and will always be remembered. RIP Sarah.

Sarah was a wonderful teacher, and I looked forward to Russian classes in the Submarine. She was one of the good ones. I’m saddened to hear of her passing, my condolences to all of her friends and family.

Deepest condolences to Sarah's family. This was a real teacher. A kind, giving, strong person, dedicated to education. Sarah opened the door to the beauty of grammar and literature, encouraged us to think for ourselves, and did it all with joy and a great sense of humour. It is a privilege to have studied with her. I will always be grateful. Вечная память.

I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Sarah’s passing. She was the kindest
colleague - always supportive, engaged, and receptive. I will miss having her to turn to. May she rest in peace.

Thanks for everything Sarah.
Your kindness and positivity made discovering the Russian language an adventure.

So sorry to hear this sad news. Sarah taught me in the early 1990s. At that time the Russian department felt like a small family and that was in large part down to Sarah. I feel very privileged to have had such a great teacher. She was funny, cool, whip-smart and interested in us - almost as if she were treating us as equals if we were up for it. It is only now, years later, as I watch my own kids go through college that I realise just how much she gave us and how lucky and happy we were. Спасибо большое Sarah, присядем на дорожку.
Sincere condolences to all her family and friends.

I was very sorry to learn the sad news of Sarah's death. I first got to know Sarah when I was Dean of Graduate Studies and was instantly struck by her approachability, integrity, sense of justice, collegiality, ability and wry sense of humour. Thereafter, it was always a pleasure to meet her at various events: she was someone one could easily talk to. My sincere condolences to all her family.

I met Sarah in 2012 at the Trinity Long Room Hub, where I was working as a resident literary translator. She was Head of the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies at the time, and what struck me immediately was how genuinely she engaged with the work — not from obligation, but from real curiosity and care.
She supported my plan to pursue a PhD and offered without hesitation to be my referee. Life took its winding course, and it has taken me more than a decade to finally begin that journey, here in Australia. I had wanted to tell her. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance.
Sarah had a rare gift: she made you feel that what you were doing mattered. That languages, literature, and translation were not peripheral pursuits but essential ones. That belief stayed with me long after our time at Trinity overlapped.
My deepest condolences to her family and all who loved her. She shaped more people than she probably knew.

Sincere condolences to Sarah’s family on their loss. RIP.

Sarah was such a lovely colleague - as witty and compassionate as she was intelligent.

It was always a pleasure whenever I had the opportunity to work alongside her.

Deepest condolences to Paddy and all Sarah's family, friends and colleagues.
Вечная Память!

May she rest in peace.
A brilliant and inspirational teacher.

We are so sorry to hear of Sarah’s passing. She was the best of neighbours — always kind, generous and so welcoming. We will miss her dearly. Keeping you all in our thoughts.

Sarah made the Russian Department in TCD more than a place of education. With her brilliant mind and kind heart she nurtured us students and gave us a great start in adult and academic life. One of the best teachers I have ever come across and a thoroughly decent person, she will be remembered fondly. Condolences to Sarah's nearest and dearest.

Paddy, so sorry to see that your lovely sister, Sarah, died. Thinking of you all.

I am terribly saddened by the news of Sarah's passing. She was a wonderful colleague, always incredibly kind and supportive. Her sense of truth and justice was inspiring.
My deepest sympathies to Sarah's family.
Sit tibi terra levis, Sarah, in eternal peace and light.

Few teachers ever make connections with their students like Sarah could. Thanks for everything, Sarah.

Our deepest sympathies to Sarah’s extended family.
May you and Stanford now rest in peace together Sarah.

I am so sorry to hear the sad news about Sarah's passing. Sarah was on the interview board for my job at Trinity, and I will never forget the kindness she showed me on that occasion. Sending you all my deepest sympathy.

Had interactions with Prof Smyth many years ago as a student and found her to be a compassionate and thoughtful person and lecturer. rinity will feel her absence. Condolences to her family and friends.

As one of her many admiring former students, I am forever grateful to Sarah for inspiring in me a love of the Russian language and an appreciation of icons. Sarah encouraged critical thinking and intellectual rigour with patience and understanding. She was the heart and soul of the Russian Department and the whole university felt manageable because of the atmosphere of belonging she created there. I was very pleased to be able to stay in touch with her and I valued her wonderful company most sincerely.
My heartfelt condolences to Sarah's siblings and to all of her family.
Пусть земля будет пухом

Wishing all of Sarah's family and especially her colleagues in the Trinity Centre for Literary Translation our sincerest condolences for their great loss. We (especially Dalia) remember Sarah so well, and we are grateful for her founding of the TCD CLT, which she developed from just an idea to an actual place where she organised many events, some of which we remember now. Dalia also shares with Sarah a love of the the Russian language and literature.
May she rest in peace, and be rewarded eternally.

Sarah was such an extraordinary person, she managed to make one of the most difficult languages accessible to beginners, her passion shone so bright, she was a joy to be around at all times. She will be so sorely missed, спасибо за все 💚

R.I.P. lovely Sarah.

To Sarah’s family - I was an undergrad student of Sarah’s at TCD in the ‘90s. Sarah was a remarkable person to whom I’ll always be grateful for her inspiring teaching, her patient and generous tutoring to keep me on the straight and narrow, and her wit, sense of humour and inimitable laugh. She influenced my life and I think of her often as I still read her beloved Dostoyevsky in the original Russian.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Царствие ей небесное и вечный покой.
Donall O’Shea
Cork

Sarah was a patient and inspiring teacher, a wise and generous mentor, and a kind and witty friend. I am so grateful for all her support and guidance over many years. My sincere condolences to her family and many friends. She was one of a kind and she will be sorely missed.

Farewell Sarah, you were a joy to know. Rest in Peace

Sarah was the head of modern languages when I joined TCD as assistant professor in Polish studies in 2010. In the three years that I was there, she supported me in all things, big and small, lending a patient ear to my endless worries as a junior scholar. I always looked forward to our monthly lunches at Dunne and Crescenzi, a tradition Sarah established and nurtured during my time in Trinity. She was the most caring, attentive, funny, and wise mentor I could have wished for.

A lot of time passed after that. I left Ireland, got a new position, and lost touch with Sarah, but I was fortunate to be able to see her for lunch last year during a brief return visit to Dublin. We had pasta and a green salad, talked for nearly three hours, hugged at the end, and I promised to get in touch when I returned this year. It makes me so sad that I will never see her again.

My heartfelt condolences to Sarah’s siblings and extended family. She will always be missed.

Sarah inspired generations of Russian language students and will be sorely missed. My condolences to her family.

I was very saddened to hear of your lovely sister in law death Ken. Deepest sympathy to you and Sandra and all your family. Love and light. Patricia and tribe

Heartfelt condolences to all Sarah's family and friends at this very sad time. May she rest in eternal peace.

Deepest condolences to Paddy and family at this very sad time.

Rest in peace. I loved her teaching, she had a lot of patience with students less bright than she was.

Deepest condolences to Sarah’s family and friends. May her noble soul rest in peace.

Wishing all of Sarah's family and close friends sincerest condolences for their immense loss.

Our deepest sympathies are with Sarah's entire family during this incredibly difficult time. Please accept our sincerest condolences. May she rest in peace.🙏

Sarah was my professor of Russian at Trinity. A small department and a small cohort of students so we all became close. Sarah was our anchor and our shepherd. Unafraid of difficult topics, Sarah spoke with a wonderful disarming wryness and cuttingly sage insight.

A humanist, a teacher and a friend, Sarah enjoyed the richness of life and literature. She told us tales of her family history in the theatre, her memories of her mother writing novels on her typewriter and shared her deep love of teaching with us. She was a steady witness to her students’ lives and travels. We admired Sarah, all her students did. We sought her attention and her warmth. She was standout and special.

Sarah stayed in touch with many of her students after graduation. I enjoyed meeting her for lunch and catching up. She was invested and interested in me and her other graduates, and we were in her.

It is an end of an era without Sarah.

Пусть она покоится с миром

I got to know Sarah at meetings of the Post Primary Languages Initiative steering committee where she made well-considered and carefully thought-out contributions. It was always good to meet her; she was a warm and witty person to talk with. Sarah fought the good fight for foreign languages in education and she will be missed.

Wishing all of Sarah's family and close friends every strength and comfort over the coming days.
My deepest sympathy.
Nell

I'm so very sorry to read of your sister's death, Paddy. Condolences on the loss of Sarah and best wishes to you and your family.

Deepest sympathy to all of Sarah’s family. Sarah provided advice and support to me personally, and to our organisation PPLI over many years. She also shared her rich experiences, including some on learning languages which we shared far and wide. She was generous with her time and expertise in an understanding, understated, and self-effacing way and I appreciated so much the ongoing interest she had in catching up even during her illness. I will be forever grateful for the times we shared and will miss her very much. May she rest in peace.

Rest in peace Now you truly have your wings will miss our morning massage.love ya (sis) x