Limerick students were lucky to be taught by the late Mr Lynch

MOST PEOPLE have that “one teacher” they never forget and that was Eric Lynch for generations of students in CBS Sexton Street. 

Mr Lynch shaped the young minds of boys in the secondary school for decades. The Killaloe native, who resided in Castletroy, passed away on Valentine’s Day, aged 84.

Noel Earlie is in a unique position to share his memories of Mr Lynch. Mr Earlie was taught by Mr Lynch, then they were teaching colleagues before Mr Earlie became principal of the renowned school.

“He taught me Leaving Certificate geography. He was a wonderful teacher. He taught with such fantastic knowledge and passion. 

“He had a great sense of wit, was always on the side of students and was a wonderful support to his students. He took a great interest in them,” said Mr Earlie.

English was the other subject taught by Mr Lynch and, again, his passion for the subject - Shakespeare was one of many favourites - was imbued in his students.

“I had great respect for him as a teacher because he taught me. He was a fantastic teacher of both subjects. The school was very lucky to have him, along with a number of other brilliant teachers and they still are today,” said Mr Earlie.

It was Mr Lynch and his friend Jim Liddane’s exploits outside the classroom that some will remember most fondly. They introduced soccer to the traditionally GAA-playing school.

“He identified some very, very talented soccer players in the school and himself and his great friend Jim Liddane entered the team in the Munster and All-Ireland schools championship and they went on to win it,” said Mr Earlie. The team even went to Turkey to take on the best schools in Europe.

 “He was a great man to bring the students on trips. He brought them regularly to  the Burren as part of his geography teaching and also brought English students to Stratford-upon-Avon,” said Mr Earlie.

READ MORE: Update on plans for new sports centre at old Limerick school

Mr Lynch retired in 2005. His contribution to education locally wasn’t forgotten by the large number of students who paid their respects at his removal and Funeral Mass.

Mr Earlie said Mr Lynch loved the outdoors.

“He was very big into fishing and training gun dogs,” said Mr Earlie, who tells a great story that summed up Mr Lynch’s wit.

“I remember one time he was over in Balmoral in Scotland for a competition. The Queen attended and I said to Eric, ‘I believe, Eric, you met the Queen’. 

“‘Excuse me,’ he said, ‘I didn't go to meet her, she came to meet me!’ He was a man of fierce wit,” recalled Mr Earlie fondly.

The beloved husband of the late Anne and dearly loved father of Maire, Christopher, Orla and Liam is sadly missed by his loving  family, his many close friends and former students who were lucky enough to be taught by Mr Lynch.

May he rest in peace.