Seán Brennan

Looking back to my time in CCRI, why didn't every class in every grade have at least 1 class with Mr. Brennan every week, we would have all benefited in our appreciation of music and his wisdom.

Very saddened to see his passing. He had a huge profound and positive effect on my life and my love of music was thanks to him . A man ahead of his time who could reach any student on any level . I left Chriost Rí in 1988 and never a week or so passed that he wasn't thought of by way of a piece of music I'd hear or just a fond memory of those days .

I have just heard the news of Mr Brennan’s death What a teacher ! He opened up the world of Music to me and to so many others.I am so grateful for that gift. An amazing man,Rest in peace Sir.

¡ Hasta el cielo , Sean !
Profesor inusual y muy querido , mentor para toda una vida ,Amigo sin fronteras -tantos libros , paseos , escritos , ideas compartidos- y sobretodo tu casa donde se encontraban tus mas preciosos tesoros : tu esposa , tus hijos e hija , tus nietos . Amaremos Irlanda la verde , la bella , la única por ti y para siempre.Compartimos el profundo dolor de tus seres queridos desde
este otro país, tuyo , también : España .

Descansa en Paz ,querido Sean .

Sincere sympathy to the Brennan family
Mr Brennan taught my sons, he was a wonderful teacher. At parent teacher meetings it was always a pleasure to meet him and listen to his words of wisdom. Leaba I measc na Naomh go raibh aige anois

Sincere condolences to Hilarie and family You are all in my and my Family’s prayers. Sorry for your loss.

Very sorry to hear news of Mr Brennan’s passing, he was an exceptional teacher who gave great help to my sons at a very difficult time in our lives.
Sincere sympathy to the Brennan family.

We were neighbours in Maryborough back in the 1980's. Then I went to Chríost Rí where Seán taught music. He was always very meticulous, and the most organised teacher I ever had, anywhere. I could never figure out how he arranged those tables in his classroom!
And I will never forget Bach’s “Air from Suite No. 3 in D”.

Sincere sympathy to Seán’s family.
Rest In Peace, Maestro.

My sincere condolences to Hilarie and all the family on the passing of Seán. I’m remembering Hilarie’s kindness to me, especially during my Leaving Cert, and I’m thinking of you all at this sad time.

Whenever I hear the first bar of Bach’s Suite No3 in D it brings me back to Mr Brennan’s music room! Or if I hear a jig playing I find myself repeating “Wrigg-l-ey’s Chew-ing Gum, Wrigg-l-ey’s Chew-ing Gum”!!!

What an outstanding teacher. RIP

Rest in peace, Mr. Brennan. My deepest condolences to the Brennan family during this time of loss.

Sincere sympathy to Hilarie and family and to the extended Brennan family on the death of Seán, a wonderful human being, an inspiring Christian, a scholar and a gentleman. Leaba i measc na Naomh go raibh aige i dteannta le Muire Máthair Íosa!

So sorry to hear of Sean’s passing , we enjoyed his contributions to the various courses in Popes Quay.
Sincere condolences to his family.

Sincere sympathy to all who mourn Seán
I have very good memories of happy times together

Sincere sympathy to Hilarie and all the Brennan family , Sean was a loving kind man .
May He enjoy the happiness of Heaven

Sean was a true gentleman He has gone to his eternal reward. Sincere sympathy to you Hilarie, Eoin , Colm, Niamh , Cillian, Cian.
I will remember him fondly.

So sorry to hear of Sean’s passing.Its a hard time for you all.Sincere condolences.

Very sorry to learn of your father’s passing Cian.
A tough experience losing your father and I’ll be thinking of you over the next few days.
Remember the good times.

Condolences on your loss.

He was a fine man and a great teacher

Cian - my sympathies at the passing of your dad. 

He was a wonderful character, and made such an positive impression on so many of us over the years.

Have really great memories of his classes, and the sense of escapism from the everyday madness. He opened our minds to Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, the Beatles and the virtues of a metronome. I still have my good, solid, thick, decent, stitched, hard-covered A4 notebook for Music only.

So sorry to see that your Dad has passed, Cian. We had great fun in his music classes!

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Fantastic music teacher who made learning fun! Really enjoyed my time as a student in his classes. May he rest in peace!

Cian I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. Thinking of you and your family.

Cian, we’re so so sorry to hear about your father. Our sincerest condolences to you and your family. Very sad. Our thoughts are with you.

R.i.p Mr. Brennan -
blackendecker blackendecker tayto cheese and onion flavour

God rest him

Mr. Brennan was an awesome teacher. Told me I was tone deaf and couldn’t carry a tune in my pocket! He was so right on both counts! Still listen to Debussy’s Clair de lune every so often thanks to Mr. Brennan! RIP

I still remember that the time signature of a reel is "black and Decker black and Decker" , and a hornpipe is 'tayto cheese and onion flavour". A lovely man and my favourite teacher. RIP

A lovely man. Always a smile and a joke from him and I genuinely cannot ever remember a cross word from him.

May he rest in peace.

Johann Sebastian Bach..orchestral air from suite no 3 in d Major, George Friderick Handel, Water Music, Music for the royal firework’s.. I could go on, this man made my life richer and brought culture to my world. A fantastically organised man, a great teacher. RIP Mr. Brennan and thank you.

He had a mischievous sense of humour running through all those mannerisms, ditties and mnemonics. His class was always fun and he obviously cared deeply. RIP Mr. Brennan.

A gentleman and a scholar. Sad to hear this, a fantastic teacher who brought joy to his pupils.

I learned so much from this man, and not just about music, or Irish. A gifted teacher in the true sense of the word and a very decent gentleman. R.I.P. Mr Brennan

An absolute gentleman..RIP Mr Brennan.

A great man and teacher. Great memories. RIP Mr Brennan.

The fun we had in this man's class, great memories. May he RIP

First day in Criost Rí and Mr Brennan entered the classroom and introduced himself. He then wrote his name and these letters on the blackboard after his name. Mr Brennan. BBTOIITWS!

He asked for guesses as to what the letters meant? No one got it right so he explained...Best Bloody Teacher of Irish In The Whole School! And he was. He was unlucky enough to have me for music as well.
RIP

Elgars wagon passing was one of many headbanger introductions to a lifelong joy. RIP.

So sorry to read this. Mr. Brennan was a breath of fresh air and ahead of his time. Coming through the 70’s of brute force teaching of primary school and into secondary education to find the gentleman that was Mr. Brennan. He had such a love of his profession that it inspired all of his pupils to love music, whether we appreciated it or not at the time, it never left us. To this day, 45 years later, I still remember music class with Mr. Brennan as real education, properly taught with passion. It’s a great pity more teachers hadn’t the enthusiasm in their roles as educators as Mr. Brennan had.

Rest in peace Sir.

Sad to see it. He managed to get me top grade in lower grade music.

50 years later it still rolls off the tongue...

"Bach wrote fugues, for harpsichords and not for Moogs.
One for organ, it's in G Minor,
Starts with a tune you can croon nine or ten times,
And it's called the subject of the little fugue."

RIP Mr Brennan

We lit a candle in the church in Renteria in honour if Sean. We are sorry for you and we send the condolences.to Hil and family.

Hilarie and family , so sorry to hear about Sean. Lovely memories of being with you all .

Please accept my condolences, Hilarie, Niamh, Cillian and all the family.

I never knew Seán, but he must have been very proud to have such a wonderful family. He lives on through you all.

Stephen Herlihy (CBC and CSM)

Our sincere sympathy to you Niamh and all your family on the loss of your dad, Seàn. May he rest in peace.

Thank you Sean for fuelling and firing in me, and so many others, a lifelong love and appreciation for music of all genres. God bless you RIP.

Dear Hil,
I am very sorry for your loss.We feel very attached to your family

Hilarie
So sorry to hear about Sean Fond memories of lots of chats and good laughs Dessie sends his sympathy
to you all.

We are saddened to hear of your loss, that Sean has left us.He was a GREAT MAN.I am filled with the remarkable memories of the cheerful times I had the pleasure of sharing with him.
Uche Matilda Giorgio

Hello Hilarie
I am sorry for your lost We are glad we met Sean A big hug for you and your family

My condolences to the Brennan family. I have fond memories of Mr. Brennan opening my eyes to music in the mid 70s. May he rest in peace

Former student CCR.

My condolences to all the family. I have fond memories of Mr. Brennan's music class from 1986 to 1989. He was thoroughly prepared for every class, and I was always proud to placed in the Outer Hebrides and not in Spike Island! May God be good to his soul.

Sincere condolences to Hilarie, Eoin, Colm,Niamh,Cillian and Cian on the very sad passing of your husband/father.
My abiding memory of Mr Brennan is of outside the school setting and calling to his home in Maryborough almost forty years ago on a couple of Sunday mornings preparing with his meticulous attention to detail a JS Bach transcription on trombone with his good wife accompanying on piano for a Feis Matiu competition which I went on to win.
Such a kind,caring and most helpful human being he was.
May he rest in eternal peace 🙏

Sincere condolences for the Brennan family
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Amidst the sadness it is heartwarming how you write about him being able to live a good life at home until the very last days and being surrounded by loved ones at the last moments.

We are really sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you, and we send you strength and support. We know you are surrounded by love. We are here in case you need any support.

Heartfelt Sympathy to Hilarie & all Seán’s family & extended family at this sad time. Seán was a great colleague & a wonderful teacher. You did him proud at the beautiful Mass you prepared for him . You will be in our thoughts & prayers. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Sincere condolences to mrs brennan and family on the sad passing of sean a lovely man may his gentle soul rest in peace

Deepest condolences to Hilarie and the Brennan family on the passing of Seán. A sad moment for the wider Chríost Rí family. RIP