Obituary: the late Tony Masterson

The death has taken place of former primary school principal Tony Masterson, who was 81 years old. He died peacefully, holding the hands of his devoted wife Anne and daughter Triona on Saturday evening last, April 27.

Tony was a wonderful husband, father and an educator through and through. Tony was educated in St Finian’s college, Mullingar. He had an interest in everything and everyone and loved politics, which he studied in UCD, and he was a fan of one particular political party – FF.

Tony studied primary teaching in Drumcondra and went on to principalship in Dunboyne. He promoted the Irish language with his work on Buntús Cainte and had influence on the national primary curriculum development.

Tony also taught trainee teachers how to teach physical education in primary schools.

He believed wholeheartedly in “mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad” and he loved the art of teaching, turning down an invitation to join the inspectorate, such was his love of teaching. “A teacher affects eternity and can never truly tell where their influence stops,” said Fr Philip Gaffney during Tony’s funeral Mass.

He taught phonics to help children to learn how to read before phonics was an adopted approach; however, the siren like lure of the north Westmeath hills and the bridge of Finea were calling him home.

Castletown Finea Whitehall GFC

Tony played football with the men of Finea and had an enduring interest in the GAA. He played in goals with Castletown Finea during the 1960s and ‘70s, and was on the team who won the Dublin Lord Mayor’s cup in 1966, and he won four consecutive league titles with Castletown Finea from 1966 to 1969.

He was also part of the 1972 team who contested the Junior football final.

Tony took over as principal in Finea school initially and then moved up to Castletown Finea. He was proud that he continued the tradition of principalship and school leadership that spanned 125 years of education in Ireland through three generations of his maternal family. That legacy in education continues, as his daughter has left the field of psychology to teach, and he was immensely proud of her research role with UCD, his Alma Mater, and Triona’s recent qualification in Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia).

Tony had also worked with the Dyslexia Association of Ireland and was delighted that was what Triona had chosen to follow also.

After retirement, he did not put the feet up and he joined the Choral Society. Tony picked up the golf clubs and enjoyed much après golf and also boules and games of bridge too.

Even through the Covid-19 pandemic, his irrepressible spirit was not dampened and he kept up the steps by walking up around St Finian’s College, reminiscing on old times as he walked.

Tony was highly regarded by his friends and there are many tales to be told by those who knew him. He had an incredible joie de vivre, a quick wit and a way of telling a joke that would marinade for days. His infectious, loud laugh echoed around any room he entered and he was the life and soul of any gathering.

He loved people. He loved talking to people and spending time with those he loved.

Tony was a gentleman and his sincere love of life made him a person hard to ever forget. Even when he had difficulty in communicating in the late stages of his illness, Tony found a way to communicate through his sparkling blue eyes and he made his thoughts known.

The kindness and care he received in the last year of his life from the staff and nurses of Newbrook Nursing Home were of huge support to his family and him.

Tony was a family man and a devoted husband to Anne and a wonderful father to Triona. Family and Anne’s family in Kildare were important to him and he spent weekends up with them and in Finea with his father, James.

He and Anne loved to go away together and travelled around to many hotels themselves and with their friends. They would garden together and read together in the evenings. Invariably they would watch the news a few times a day as Tony hated to miss out on any political developments worldwide, and he would read the newspaper daily.

Anne and Tony were devoted to each other, and they both were devoted to their daughter Triona.

Tony loved County Kerry and every summer, he would pack up the car and off they would go to Castlegregory. His adventurous spirit led them up the Conor Pass and down to the long beaches, especially if it was raining – he loved a walk in the rain and the sea air.

He loved music and wouldn’t be able to pass a piano without sitting down and playing the Cuckoo Waltz.

Tony was proud of his garden and, when home with his family in the care of his wonderful and devoted nurse Aimee, he took a long last look out at the beauty that he had sown, tended to and nurtured over the years.

Tony is survived by his wife, Anne; his daughter, Triona, his grandchildren Lucyanne and Niall, and his son-in-law Brian Leavy.

His grandchildren were important to him. Lucyanne and Niall were lucky to have a grandfather like Tony who enjoyed the company and the fun around children. He loved spending Sundays with them and hearing of their days in school. His favourite book to read to them was ‘How to look after a Grandpa’.

He was so proud of them, he would often be heard talking about them to whomever would listen.

Tony’s funeral Mass was celebrated by a former pupil of his, Fr Philip Gaffney, his school mate, very Rev Patrick Moore, Castlepollard, and his longtime friend Fr Barry Condren (Tyrrellspass) with Fr Barry White.

The high regard in which he was held was demonstrated by the large crowds who gathered to bid farewell to him on Tuesday evening last. Members of the Dáil and Seanad past and present were also in attendance to offer their condolences.

The service was concluded with the beautiful hymn ‘How Great thou Art’ and the music was a particularly striking tribute from Gerard Lillis and singer Ann Caulfield, with whom Tony had sung in Mullingar Choral Society.

His dear friends and neighbours, in a fitting tribute from Brookfield, lined up as he made his final descent of the steps of the Cathedral of Christ the King.

As Fr Philip Gaffney said, quoting Ralph Emerson, Tony “left the world a better place for having lived and that is to have succeeded”.