Shock in Rathmines school over death of ‘much loved’ principal

Pádraic Carney, a Dublin primary school principal who died in a traffic collision while cycling to work on Tuesday, was the 11th cyclist to die on Irish roads so far this year.

Mr Carney, (53), was the principal of St Louis Senior Primary School in Rathmines, Dublin 6. He was involved in a collision with a car at a junction on Butterfield Park in Rathfarnham, cycling from his home to work at 8.10am on Tuesday. He was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Jake Byrne, chairperson of the school’s board of management, said Mr Carney’s death was “a terrible tragedy” for his friends and family, and the whole school community.

“We are all deeply saddened by his sudden and untimely death. Pádraic was a wonderful leader in the school. His infectious enthusiasm for the job of teaching children and his warm and charming personality made him most popular with pupils, parents, staff and all who came to know him in his job,” Mr Byrne said. Mr Carney was very popular with the students in the Rathmines school.

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On Wednesday, psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) were brought in to the school to provide support to pupils and teachers as they learned of the news of Mr Carney’s death.

The co-educational school issued a statement on Wednesday which said: “We are all deeply saddened by his sudden and untimely death. The entire school community of St Louis Senior Primary School, Rathmines sends its deepest condolences to Pádraic’s family and friends.” The statement added that teachers and psychologists had “spoke to all the children . . . and allowed them to share and process their grief”.

The students in the school in Williams Park are aged between eight and 12.

The board of management said offers of support have been pouring in from the wider community and local parents, and the management would “like to express its appreciation” for the support from the community.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision was not believed to have been injured.

Gardaí have made an appeal for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Rathfarnham Garda station.