Stella G. MEW

Deeply saddened to hear of Ms. Mew's passing - an extraordinary, exceptional principal who ensured that our education was as broad as St John Henry Newman's conception of it, including inter alia, our unforgettable canoeing expeditions, Liffey Descent, building a canoe in the gym, fencing under the tuition of Prof. Duffy and the annual Christmas carol service in St. Paul's.
It was always a pleasure to meet her, with her generous smile and wisdom, at the alumni events in recent years. She will be greatly missed by all of us in 'Rathdown' who were privileged to have known her.
Her Requiem service was a fitting tribute to her and her inspiring legacy. Perhaps Ms. Mew has gone now to the Lake Isle of Innisfree with its 'water lapping with low sounds by the shore..' [WB Yeats]. RIP Ms. Mew.

In the summer of 1973 Miss Mew drove myself and three others from Dublin to a Bible camp in Aberlour, Scotland, in her estate Morris Minor. Her sense of fun and adventurous spirit was infectious. We slept under the stars on the way back. I remember her with fondness. Her funeral service was beautiful. A fitting tribute to a special lady.

Our sincere sympathies to the family, friends and former students on the sad passing of Stella.
She was a remarkable lady and it was our privilege to have known her. May she rest in peace.

She was a wonderful headmistress with a fantastic attitude to life and made my time as a boarder bearable. Class of 1980

We are all saddened to hear of Stella’s passing.A lady of great joy,enthusiasms and high principles.Her exceptional stewardship of Rathdown was underpinned by kindness,wisdom and humanity.
A Woman For All Seasons.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Stella was a truly inspirational woman- to her family and dear friends you will miss her, however her legacy will live on and she will never be forgotten.

I first met Stella when I was about 10 when my Dad ,Alan took me to meet her in Rathdown. she was galloping on her horse across the fields at the back of the school. I was then taken to see the rabbits and guinea pigs that the boarders were allowed to keep there, I thought the girls were so lucky.!

I have great memories of staying in Rathdown at Girl crusader camps where Stella along with Evelyn Bewley were wonderful examples of Christian women.
At the camps we went rock climbing and canoeing expertly guided by Stella.
On one occasion heading off in the famous mini bus one of my friends fell out of the boot as we took off from the school- she wasn't hurt and popped back into the boot making sure it was closed properly and off we went.

I went to Glengara and a few years after I left school the move up to Rathdown was a success with Stella playing a huge part in that.

What a wonderful woman Stella was -One of a kind.
May you rest in peace.

Miss Mew was an inspirational person in the life of Freda in Crusaders and later in the lives of Ruth and Susan in Rathdown. She was a true Christian and will be never forgotten by our family. May she rest in Peace and Rise in Glory and may her memory be a blessing to us all.

It was an honour and a privilege to know Miss Mew and have her as my principal in Rathdown School. She instilled values in me that I try to uphold daily, and she had a massive influence on my life, and in particular, in my sporting endeavours. She taught us the importance of respect for each other and what we represent. I remember her insisting we showed courtesy and held doors open for each other. If we saw litter in the hallways we didn't ignore it, we tidied it up. It was always about doing the right thing.

She was a role model for hard work, dedication, fun, passion, a 'can do' attitude, and she brought energy to everything.
I'm glad to say that her approach to driving cars/buses was the only example I didn't follow. But even that was a fun adventure.

My thanks and appreciation to her and everyone who shaped her, for the positive influence she had on my life. She will be missed but always remembered.
May she rest in peace

It is with great sadness that we hear of Stella’s death. We extend our sympathies to her family and friends. As the first CEO of the Yeats Society she was a visionary, possessed with tremendous energy and stamina, continuously broadening the scope and activities of the Society. She reached out in various directions, giving talks to local schools, and a series of lectures to the Yeats Society members and enjoyed Yeats’s birthday celebrations on June 13. She led bus tours and conducted walking tours round town, particularly to St. Johns, where Yeats's parents John Butler Yeats and Susan Pollexfen of Sligo were married in 1863. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Stella organised a memorable trip to Devon, the original home territory of the Pollexfens. She delighted in sharing her extensive knowledge with scholars and students and Yeats Society members alike. Her work for the Yeats Society went way beyond the call of duty, often burning the midnight oil. Long after she ceased to be CEO and up to and including 2022 Stella was a constant and welcome participant at both the Winter and Summer Schools. She was a real warrior and a wonderful person. We will miss her gracious presence around the ‘Land of Heart's Desire’- suaimhneas siorraí ar a h-anam uasal dílis.

Our daughters Anne-Marie, Jill and Holly had the great honour of being Rathdown pupils under the wonderful guidance of Ms Mew as their headmistress from 1993 for 12 years.
We just knew with Ms Mew at the helm our girls would receive a wonderful all round balanced education.
Their first experience of Ms Mews driving was a hair raising trip on the school bus over the Wicklow mountains ( "why travel by the main road when over the hills was much more scenic" )
Equestrian trips followed on with a day trip to Castlehill in Co Meath to support the Rathdown show jumping team. The school bus arrived with Ms Mew at the wheel.
The girls disembarked , picnic lunches in hand and then sat for the day supporting the team.

This was followed by a trip to Punchestown Horse Trials to watch the Rathdown team compete on their ponies
The ponies were wearing the Rathdown school colours on their bridles and saddle clothes
It was a dark, wet miserable November morning as the Rathdown school bus rolled into Punchestown at 8.0am
Ms Mew proceeded to march the girls around the the cross country course and had them back in school by lunchtime!

Lots of stories, memories and fun too!
What a wonderful lady and headmistress, we were lucky to have known her.
Sadly a dying breed, gone but never forgotten.
May she rest in peace

We are going to miss you so much Miss Mew, the very fitting appreciations yesterday were a perfect way to celebrate the fantastic legacy you leave behind, you were an inspiration to so many people. I have great memories from when you came to visit in Geneva and your Christmas eve calls to our family were always cherished. Thank you for everything, we will miss your brilliant smile and your enthusiasm for life. May you rest in peace Siobhain & John and Aoife

Stella overflowed with competence, integrity,, leadership, intelligence , generosity and concern for others. She was a natural leader leader and a wonderful friend. She contributed greatly to the life of the Yeats Society and school in Sligo. RIP

Deeply sorry to hear of Stella's death. She was a very special person ; beloved of so many. A great Principal/Headmistress who achieved so much, in a joyful way. We pray that God our Father's embrace is her eternal future.

I was so sad to hear about the death of Stella, who was a special mentor to me when I took over from her as Principal of Rathdown School in 2002. She had a great way of guiding me, never interfering but always being there in the background when I needed her. Her shoes were impossible to fill, as her dedication to Rathdown School was all encompassing and unstinting. I couldn’t ever aspire to her level of dedication and commitment. She taught me so much as a ‘novice’ principal and her advice, lessons and ideas still steer my work today as Principal of Alexandra College. Stella was an Alexandra Alumna and she never forgot her roots or attachment to the College. She is deeply mourned by the community here, and many of her contemporaries have spoken to me with great respect about Stella and the contributions she made here as a student and her subsequent influence on Irish education. Her passion for WB Yeats is well-documented elsewhere but as a teacher dedicated to developing a love of learning in all those she met, it deserves a special mention here.

She was a truly special person. They don’t make them like her anymore.

I finish my tribute to Stella with a quotation from the Irish/American poet and undertaker who said;
“Sometimes I stand among the stones and wonder. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I weep. Sometimes nothing at all much happens. Life goes on. The dead are everywhere”,
Thomas Lynch, “The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade”,

My sincerest sympathy to those who loved Stella, her family and friends.
I met Stella through Dùn Laoghaire Rotary Club, where my late father, Seàn, was a member. We were on interview boards together for student competitions and career advice. Ms. Mew was insightful, kind and generous towards the students. Stella’s positivity and sense of humour were infectious and I had the honour of sharing her company on many occasions in the 1990s.
May she rest in peace. Rosemary

My deepest sympathies to Miss Mew's close family and friends. Having attended Rathdown for 13 years, I was lucky enough to have Miss Mew as our Principal of the Senior School. We completely took for granted the great character that was Stella Mew. We thought there would be many like her in the world but she was truly unique. I'm glad we survived the bus trips to the Classisist Conferences at Queens University with Miss Mew at the wheel! Great memories. Semper gratiam habebo.

May you rest now in the Lord’s eternal peace, Stella.! You enriched so many lives in so many different ways. I have wonderful memories of meetings enlightened by your wisdom and enlivened by your enormous sense of fun. You will long be remembered for your role in education at national and international level. Thank you, in particular, for your involvement in ESHA-Ireland and in NAPD. PAX. Mary McGlynn,,

My sincere condolences to Miss Mew’s family and loved ones. She was a wonderful influence on all of us during our time in Rathdown. As a boarder prefect I had the privilege of having tea with her every Sunday evening. That is just one example of how much she cared about her students. She really made Rathdown what it was during the time I was there. May she rest in peace.

Though my first year in Rathdown Senior School was Miss Mew’s final year as principal, I have always appreciated her influence on my six years there. My classmates and I were lucky to be among the generations of young women educated by her. Her impact on my education and outlook on life went far beyond that one year because of the school culture she fostered and the integrity she inspired. It was always a joy to see Miss Mew at school and alumni events. She will be missed and always remembered.

It was with regret that I heard of the passing of Miss Mew
I wish to proffer my sympathy to Miss Mew’s family circle and her many many friends from all facets of her wide ranging interests in both her professional and personal life.

Madeleine ( née Childs)

So saddened to hear of the death of Stella Mew.

A Beautiful Mind,
A Beautiful Soul,
A Lovely Human Being,
What a combination.

Our abiding memory is of Stella standing in our swimming pool in our home in S.W. France at 2 am looking up at shooting stars in the dark night sky.
One star looking at many.
.RIP Stella.
Pauline, John & Kate O'Leary.

With deepest sympathy to Stella's family and friends. Her many talents enriched the Yeats Summer School through the years, and her presence called forth the best in students of all ages. Her professionalism, dedication, care for standards and for students were generous gifts to everyone fortunate enough to have met her.

I was fortunate to spend 13 happy years at Rathdown. Miss Mew made our school what it was, standards were high, and we were each taught the importance of respect, friendship, and good manners. She also instilled in us a lifelong love and appreciation of The Arts and nature- something I will forever be grateful for.

With so many memories, one that stands out was during a "Sponsored 24 Hour Stay Awake" in Palmer Hall, our group was close to falling asleep, and Miss Mew grabbed the keys to the mini-bus and drove us out to climb The Sugar Loaf before dawn - such was her brilliant spontaneity.

May she rest in peace.

I was a border at Rathdown for secondary school, Miss Mew was a big part of our lives. I'll always fondly remember her taking us canoeing around the harbour and down rivers. May she rest in peace.

I am so saddened to hear of Stella's passing. She was always Miss Mew to us as students, a hugely influential lady in so many young ladies' lives - none of us probably appreciated it until we looked back as adults on the fantastic school years we had, driven by her unending commitment, passion and desire to build a brilliant school. And that she did, a school renowned overseas as well as at home.

Stella introduced me to the world of Tall Ship sailing, via an opportunity she came across, and I have continued ever since.
The annual Classical Studies conferences in Queens' University were always a highlight - the blue minibus came out and we all held onto our seats as Stella booted up the motorway!

Stella and my Mum became friends thanks to the parents committee; she subsequently visited my parents when they moved to France, I recall visiting caves and kayaking with her in the Dordogne valley, two things she always loved!

May you rest in peace now Stella. You nurtured a generation of girls into women, and had influence far beyond Rathdown. We are forever appreciative.

Kate O'Leary (1997) and Pauline O'Leary (parents committee)

Our deepest sympathy to Stella’s family and friends. We paraphrase her beloved Yeats and say ‘ Our glory was to have such a friend’.

So sorry to hear of the death of Stella .What a wonderful lady.
It was a privilege to know her and serve with her on the Board of World Vision
Stella was a joy to have at a meeting, always positive and full of common sense
She spent all of her life giving of her time for the benefit of others
We certainly will not see her likes again Rest in peace Stella, we will miss your Smiling face

My deepest sympathy to Stella's family and friends. Miss Mew was an inspiration to all, a strong role model and a woman I highly respected. May she rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to all the friends and relatives who knew and loved Stella.
We take comfort in knowing Stella is at Peace: Her suffering is over Forever:
She has joined The Immortals: Her New Life has already begun and we give thanks!

"They told me Heraclitus, they told me you were dead;
They brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed.
I wept as I remember'd how often you and I
Had tired the sun with talking and sent him down the sky."

Ah ha ha, dear Stella! May your chariot never faulter!
Slan abhaile A Stor agus go raibh mile .. !
Eilo Molloy

Treasured memories of Stella, my headmistress during my formative years. She lived and shared her faith, love of nature and interest in all people generously. She had a great sense of humour. I applied in writing (with spelling and punctuation mistakes) for Bertha's job. We have lovely memories and experiences as we traveled to Spring Harvest. (2 Timothy 6 - 8.)

Deepest sympathy to Stella's family. Stella was an inspiration to me and always greeted me with warmth and a great sense of fun. I will miss seeing her around Sligo.

Sincere sympathy to Stella's nieces and wider family on her death. Stella was a complete joy to meet. Our Rotary Club of Sligo was enriched and enlivened with her presence, her wide ranging knowledge and humour.
Her love and knowledge of Yeats was inspirational.
May Stella rest in peace.

Louis and Sheila Doherty.

Stella was a truly inspiring person, even more so when reflecting back on her influence and life and everything she did and achieved with the maturity and experience of adult eyes. As a pupil in Rathdown, she always made us believe that nothing was insurmountable, no request too outlandish, but you did need a persuasive argument and facts to back it up! She will be greatly missed by all the Rathdown community and I will miss catching up with her at Alumni events. My sincerest condolences to her family and friends at this time.

We are truly heartbroken to hear this sad news. We have many memories of Stella. One Saturday, Stella came sailing with us, all dressed appropriately in a beautiful nautical shirt - always one for the occasion. As we sailed out of Dun Laoire harbour,we looked around and Stella was not in the cockpit. A few seconds of panic and we suddenly saw her perched up on a little wooden seat in front of the bow of the boat, Titanic style. She was enjoying it all - the fresh breeze, the wild waves and not a care in the world - phew!!
We will miss you so much Stella - your kindness, your warmth, your wisdom, your mischievous sense of fun and your utter selflessness and especially Christmas Eve - a ring at the door and your wonderful smile. May your beautiful soul Rest in Peace.
Tom and Mary Duggan and family.

Am so sad to read of Stella,s death. I met her over the years in TUH and she like me had a habit of climbing ladders to trim trees and shrubs. She gave me a gift of plants which still flourish in my garden. This bright beautiful Lady and her smiling face will stay in my memory for ever . May she rest in Peace

We were so sad to hear of Stella's death. We counted Stella as one of our dearest friends and have very happy memories of times spent together. She carried her illness with great fortitude, never complaining and giving of herself wholeheartedly to her many interests and the work of The Lord. Our deepest sympathy to the family circle and her dear friend, Marie.

My sincere condolences, I first met Stella at the W.B Society, she was the most helpful and pleasant lady that I have ever known, we had a lot of laughs together, she and my late wife Anne got on so well together.May she Rest in Peace.

When Stella Mew comes to mind, I think of many important aspects. She was an intellectual; she had a great knowledge of history, poetry and the arts.

She was a pleasure to talk to and I heard her preach in Calry church of Ireland the mall in Sligo.

She will be greatly missed by the people of Sligo and further afield.


Philippians 3:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Please remember that if you are truly " born again", then you have the same power in you that God the Father has in him and used to raise his son Jesus up from the dead.

Sincere sympathy to the Mew family on the death of Stella. We had the pleasure of meeting Stella at various functions in Sligo. She was a loving, kind, gentle lady and it was always a pleasure to meet her.

Stella defied summation or categorisation, such was the multifaceted nature of her skills, abilities and interests. Our first introduction to Stella was in Dromahaire, Co. Leitrim through a mutual friend - another one of the “Alex girls” - and from that first introduction Stella’s gentle nature and interest in people laid the foundation of a cross generational friendship that developed over the coming years. It was as if fate had conspired to solidify the bonds and that Stella and we should have moved to the Wicklow town area at the same time and to end up attending the same parish church and being appointed to the select vestry at the same time as well. We have been privileged to get to know Stella so well over the ensuing years and we will miss her greatly: her wisdom, kindness, as an inexhaustible repository of cultural insight and awareness, her deep concern for nature and work for our Eco Congregation ventures and wildflower garden in Nun’s Cross, but above all for her openness, friendship and sense of humour. To Patricia, Wendy and Inga (the “Alex Girls”) we extend our sympathies; to her good friend Marie, we know how much you will miss her, and to her family we offer our sincere condolences. Rest gently Stella and “may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.

While I didn’t know Ms Mew well, any contact I had with her over the years, was such that I had great respect and liking for her and her gentle steeliness. I have good memories of a book launch she facilitated for me in Sligo and her reciting for me a Yeats’ poem as we chatted about the book beforehand. I also remember her preaching in St Anne's Sligo one Sunday, a thoughtful and gentle sermon.

Friendly, kind lady, farewell Stella. May you rest in peace.

We are very sad to hear about Stella’s death. She was a great friend to us and an inspiration to so many.

My Sincerest Sympathies to all of Stella’s Family on her passing. What a wonderful Lady? I had the pleasure of serving with her on the Select Vestry in St Paul’s back in the day where her wisdom and experience not to mention her lovely sense of humour came to the fore on many occasions. She was certainly one of a kind and will be sadly missed by many.

We the members of the Dublin Diocesan Council of Catholic Primary School Management Association extend sympathy and prayers to Miss Mews family and friends May Stella rest in peace and rise in glory

Such a formidable woman, such a giving, caring, spiritual woman. I had the pleasure of working with her in Rathdown and she employed me after the rarest of interviews, a chance meeting outside St Pauls church on a Sunday! Such was her quirkiness. Even though I went out to dinners with her I rarely could think of her as anything but Miss Mew, she commanded such respect and ran the school with such integrity. She had a charm and an interest in other people that made her instantly likeable. Heaven has taken back one of its best! Rest in peace, Stella.

Sympathy to Stella’s family and friends Happy Memories of Stella at meetings with the late SrEileen Randles in CPSMA Office Veritas House Stella was a woman of joy May the Lord Reward her with eternal life Florence Conroy ex CPSMA

Stella gave so much encouragement to church choirs and coral Church Music of all Christian faiths May Choirs of Angels Lead HerOn Her way toParadise and Heavens eternal day -/ with gratitude Stella- Maria

Deepest sympathy to Stella’s family and friends Stella was a wonderful woman who dedicated her life to Christian Education and was a great ambassador of Ecumenism she shared her wisdom advice and support to all the Education Partners May she rest in the peace of Christ Dan OConnor Declan Lawlor and staff Dublin Diocesan Education Secretariat

I am so sorry to hear of Ms Mew's passing. I have very fond memories of her as Principal in Rathdown School. She was highly respected, kind, caring & very supportive to me in my time at the school. She was always cheerful , had lovely smile and made time for everyone. My deep sympathy to her family and friends. May She rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to Stella Mew’s family and friends. She was a lady who I had the utmost respect for. She will be missed. May she rest in peace.

Your candle burned brightly Ms Mew. I remember being about 10 years old watching you lead the students to kayaking down by the east pier in Dun Laoighre and being in awe of a principal who could be so much fun and have such energy and enthusiasm and still always command the respect of the students

Sincere condolences to Miss Mew’s family and friends. She was a lady who was a definite role model and who I had the utmost respect for. She will be missed. May she rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to Stella’s family her name Stella means Star she was a Guiding Star to her pupils parents and staff in Rathdown School She was such a good woman in love with the Gospel and had a wonderful way of living Christ command to love all people it was such a joy to serve with her on inter church education committees - “Blessed are those who instruct many unto justices for they shall shine like stars for all eternity “ Sympathy Monsignor Dan OConnor Vicar for Education Dublin Diocesan Education Secretariat

Sincere condolences to the Mew family on the sad passing of Stella. When Stella was head of the Irish Schoolmistresses Association she sat on the Council of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) and is still fondly remembered by colleagues and friends. May Stella Rest in Peace.

So sorry to hear of Stella's passing. Very fond memories of her service on the Board of World Vision Ireland. Always supportive with her insightful contributions combined with a great sense of humour.
Inspirational, dynamic and fun, one of a kind. RIP Stella.

So sorry to hear of the passing of the inimitable 'Miss Mew'. Stella was a valued member of the Board of World Vision Ireland, always supportive and interested with a great sense of humour and fun! Great memories of an inspirational woman. RIP Stella.

Sincere sympathy to all Stella's family and friends on her passing. May she rest in Peace. Stella was a member of the Rotary Club of Dun Laoghaire and Rathdown participated in our Annual Youth Leadership Development Competition. As a sincere supporter of and advocate for the competition and having the interests of her students at heart, Stella's application form on behalf of Rathdown was normally among the first received. We shall all miss her and the education system in this country is the poorer for her passing.

Stella was an amazing person, a great supporter of Christ Church Cathedral and the Choir, fond memories of her driving us around country roads at speed to get to concerts on time, The late Peter Sweeney renamed her Sterling Mew after a hair raising journey to Arklow in the Rathdown School bus, in her own words, the trip was "jolly good ", I was very glad to meet up with Stella again in Nuns Cross Church in Ashford, Wicklow in recent years and thank her for her kind words of encouragement when I acted as Cantor and occasional Organist during the covid pandemic. Stella, I will miss your friendly smile and lovely personality, may you rest in peace and rise again in God's glory. Sincere condolences to all your family and friends at this sad time.

Deepest sympathy to all Stella’s family. Always cheerful and a lovely smile. May she now rest in peace,