There is sadness in Laois and Carlow this week following the passing of Very Rev Brendan J Howard PE.
Fr Howard was well known in Laois as before he became a priest, he was the principal of a secondary school.
Back then, he was a Christian Brother and led Portlaoise CBS out of their original home in Towerhill.
Fr Howard became a Christian Brother in 1956 and remained one until being ordained a priest in 1997.
Fr Howard was born at Ardreigh, Athy on May 24, 1942, his family moving to Jerusalem, Carlow soon after.
He attended Levitstown National School and Bishop Foley School in Carlow before moving on to the CBS Academy, Carlow for his secondary education.
In 1956 he joined the Irish Christian Brothers at St. Josephs, Baldoyle and continued his education there and at Colaiste Ioghaid Ris, Dun Laoghaire.
He qualified as a Primary teacher in St. Mary’s, Marino in 1966 and went on to teach in Limerick, Portarlington and Drimnagh Castle, Dublin before taking up Secondary teaching at the latter school from 1972 to 1975- a period during which he obtained his BA and HDE (Hons.) degrees at UCD.
He obtained a M. Ed. Hons. Degree at Maynooth in 1977 and was Superior and Manager at St. Brendan’s College, Bray, CBS, Portlaoise, Colaiste Eoin, Athy, CBS, North Monastery, Cork and St. Mary’s CBS, Kilkenny between 1977 and 1993.
In 1993 he enrolled in the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkley and obtained a Masters of Theological Studies in 1995 before deciding to become a priest.
Fr Howard passed away peacefully, on New Year’s Day, 2024, in the loving care of the nurses and staff at Hillview Nursing Home, Tullow Rd., Carlow.
Pre-deceased by his parents Michael and Bridget and his brothers Michael, Anthony, Martin and Robert.
He will be sadly missed by his loving brothers Noel, Aidan and Kieran, sisters Deirdre, Nuala and Angela, Bishop Denis and the Clergy of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Taking to Twitter, Bishop Denis Nulty paid tribute to the late Fr Howard.
He said: “Fond memories of Fr. Brendan Howard PE Ballon who died on New Year’s Day.
“Brendan was ordained in 1997 having served as a Christian Brother for nearly 30 years.
“He worked in three parishes, Carlow Cathedral, Myshall and Ballon where he retired from in 2017.”
Fr Howard was laid to Rest on Thursday. May he Rest in Peace.
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