'Shining light': Tributes paid to founder of fashion department at Limerick university

A FOUNDER of the fashion department at the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) was remembered as a "shining light" and "amazing woman" at her requiem Mass.

Pam McCarthy passed away on Wednesday, October 30, aged 95.

She was described by Fr Tom Mangan as “one of nature’s gentle souls” who had “a great vision for the future” in this Monday's ceremony at The Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale.

Pam, alongside tailor Niall O’Carroll, introduced the fashion department at LSAD in 1975.

Fondly known to family and friends as ‘Piggy’, she was a “shining light throughout our whole lives”, said her grandnephew Brian.

In a touching eulogy, he described his great aunt as “so beautifully dressed”, and always “going around Abbeyfeale in her little red golf, which she did up until 2 or 3 years ago, probably in first gear the whole time, with Nancy giving her directions”.

He paid tribute to Nancy, her lifelong friend, describing the pair as “two peas in a pod, thick as thieves, like Bonnie and Clyde. Wherever you see Piggy, there's Nancy - the best of friends,” adding, speaking directly to Nancy, “she loved you so much”.

He described Pam's “unyielding sense of calmness and composure,” and explained how, after “a quick conversation with her, all of our challenges and woes seemed to dissipate”.

The first woman in her family to go to college, Pam studied teaching in Glasgow. “You could write a book about all of her achievements,” Brian said.

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He concluded the eulogy with a list of moving thank yous: “Thank you so much for always being there, thank you so much for all the babysitting, thank you so much for the constant lifts, thank you so much for the fashion advice, thank you so much for being my best friend, and all of our best friends really. May you rest in peace. I can't wait to see you on the other side”.

Anne Melinn, a former course director of the BA in Fashion Design in LSAD, said on RIP.ie: “My sincere condolences to Pam McCarthy's family and friends on her passing. She was my educator, my mentor and a dear friend. She had such vision and strength in creating an amazing and successful Fashion design course at LSAD...I am forever indebted to her. A wonderful, kind woman, with a great sense of humour”.

Patricia Keilthy, also a former course director of the degree, said: “Most sincere condolences on the loss of an AMAZING woman. I had the pleasure of working with her and I was the best of friends with her for nearly 40 years. May she Rest in Peace”.

“Her contribution to LSAD, Fashion Department was exceptional. She founded one of the most successful fashion departments both nationally and internationally. It was my honour to work with her in that adventure,” she continued, adding: “There are hundreds of graduates that have such great memories of this wee powerhouse of a woman. Rest in Peace dear Pam.”

Celia Holman Lee, founder of the Holman Lee Model, Agency said "she was phenomenal for the fashion industry", and praised her work in LSAD, which Celia added "is now regarded as one of the top colleges in the world".

A Bridgemount, Abbeyfeale, native, and a former resident of Raheen, Pam  “did not enjoy the best of health in recent years,” and passed away in the care of the staff at Milford Care Centre on Wednesday, October 30, aged 95. 

Predeceased by her parents Dr Phil and Mary, brother Dr Seán and his wife Ann, and sister Philomena, Pam is “very sadly missed” by her nieces Dr Íde and Karen, nephew-in-law Martin Lucey, grandnieces and grandnephews Martina, Brian and Milly Lucey, James and Aisling Hicks, her lifelong friend Nancy, cousins, neighbours and friends.