Born: 10 April 1943, Howth, County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1965, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 21 June 1974, Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin
Final Vows: 04 March 1985, Coláiste Iognáid SJ, Galway
Died: 30 March 2017, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin

Part of the St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin community at the time of death.

Father (Patrick) was a hotelier. Family lived at Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin City. Family also lived at various times in Ballyfermot & Donnycarney, Dublin.

Fourth in a family of six, comprising three girls and three boys.

Educated the De La Salle Primary School in Ballyfermot in 1957, he entered the legal profession for two years. He then went to work in the Licensed Trade for three years, qualifying as a barman. In 1962 he went to the Apostolic School at Mungret College SJ for three years and acquired a Leaving Certificate.

by 1977 at Regis Toronto ONT, Canada (CAN S) studying

◆ Jesuits in Ireland : & ◆ The Belvederian, Dublin, 2017 https://www.jesuit.ie/news/derek-cassidy-sj-man-soulful-presence/

Derek Cassidy SJ – a soulful presence
Fr Derek Cassidy SJ died peacefully on Thursday morning, 30 March, in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. He had been a dialysis patient for many years. In recent months, his health began to deteriorate very rapidly. The staff of Beaumont Hospital knew him well and gave him great care. He lay in rest at Belvedere College SJ on 2 April and his funeral mass took place on 3 April in Gardiner Street Church, followed by burial at Glasnevin Cemetery. Leonard Moloney SJ, the Irish Provincial who worked with Fr Derek in Belvedere College, was the principal celebrant and homilist at the mass.
Fr Derek served as Rector of Belvedere College since 2002 and was a much-loved member of the College community. He was also a member of the Jesuit community in Gardiner St, Dublin and will be sadly missed by them. He is deeply regretted by his brother Damien and wife Anne, sisters Thelma, Sandra and Denise, nephew Joe, nieces Frances, Susan and Jennifer, grandnieces Chloe, Lucy, Katie and Baby Anne, Jesuit brothers, extended family and his many friends.
Tributes were paid to Fr Derek through the Irish Jesuits page on Facebook. Bláth McDonnell commented, “Rest in Peace Fr. Derek. He had always been such a calm, kind and gentle presence around the College and will be sadly missed”. Thomas Giblin said, “What I remember of Derek was his complete presence in a conversation. It is in his eyes in the photo above. When you needed him, he was with you. There was no doubt. That made him a great chaplain and a wonderful friend”. And Clar Mag Uidhrin said, “So sorry to hear this. I’m blessed I had the opportunity to work alongside him. Rest in peace Fr Derek”. And Niall Markey noted, “Rest in peace, Derek. Thank you for the kindness you showed to me throughout my Jesuit journey. God bless”.
Fr Derek worked in school chaplaincy for a large part of his Jesuit life. He also taught as a Religious Education/Religious Studies teacher at Belvedere for several years. His ratings were above the average at 4.35/5 stars as recorded on ratemyteachers.com. Students comments included: “Biggest baller going, inspiration and a half, aspire to be like this man”; “legend of the school”; “great guy”; and “a class act, very quiet but when he preaches it all makes sense, especially with the Simpsons references”. The school’s pastoral blog noted his Golden Jubilee in 2015 and remarked, “Fr Derek is a wonderful example of what Jesuit life represents”.
Fr Derek made deep impressions on the Belvedere community during the last 16 years of his life. Headmaster Gerry Foley was particularly close to him, as evident from this personal tribute:

Remembering Derek
When we gathered in St. Francis Xavier Church, in Gardner Street, we gathered in sadness, but we wanted to celebrate and give thanks for Fr. Derek’s life with his family and with the Jesuit province. Each of us knew Derek in a different way and we all have memories of a man who could laugh at himself, the world and laugh and talk with people of very different ages and backgrounds. In mourning him we remember fondly stories that highlight his wit, his willingness to confront what he perceived was wrong, even if that led to a difficult experience for both himself and whoever thought he was going to hold back, simply because of his vocation. You did not have to guess Derek’s opinions and views. He could be subtle or when required, bold and forthright when subtlety failed.
Derek’s response to illness made you realise that we should never take being alive and having health, for granted. The theology of salvation was not theoretical for him, it was a lived example.
Images of him laughing, chatting driving in the car or the cheerleaders in the minibus, mix with images of him being silent and attentive. I was lucky enough to bring him the Leinster Senior Cup on the Sunday morning after St. Patrick’s Day. He was delighted and it was uplifting to see the chief cheerleader who loved rugby so much. He received that cup three times previously on the Front door of Belvedere House, so it represented commitment and dedication for him.

There are many things in his office, which point to who Derek is and what he brought to the college. There is a small-framed reproduction of the painting, Light of the world, Holman Hunt, Jesus carrying a lantern knocking on the door. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice, open the door, I will come to him, and I will sup with him and he with me”. On the left side is the human soul, locked away behind an overgrown doorway. Derek invited people to listen more carefully for that knock and when it came, wrench open the door, which could be difficult, and invite Jesus in.

On the table in Derek’s office is “The Simpsons and Philosophy, The D’oh of Homer.” It’s noteworthy that Richard Dawkins, Brief Candle in the Dark” is on the shelf, so Derek was catholic in his sources of inspiration. The connection may not seem obvious, but one of Derek’s favourite episodes of the Simpsons, which he used in his homilies, is the one where Bart, declaring he does not believe in having a soul, sells it, only to regret it when he discovers that life with soul is a life deprived.

If you re- watch the episode of the Simpsons he oft quoted, where Bart sells his soul, you will get a better understanding of Derek’s ability to pick something simple and use it to point to what is profound. He used it in his homily to remind all of us that soul is important, the essence of who we are and not to sell out for something else. For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what should a man give in exchange for his soul?

By using the Simpsons, Derek highlighted the challenge of Jesuit Education, to place the person of Jesus at the heart of what we do.

So, amid all Derek’s jocularity, there lay a sincerity, a belief that life was so much better lived if the gentleness of humility and care of Jesus was our inspiration.

Looking around his office, the photograph of one of the first Kairos, a card depicting Fr. John Sullivan, the photo of Fr. Reidy, photos of his family, the mass booklet from one of the Past Pupil Reunions, the framed newspaper article on the Jes winning the cup, The Belvo black and white, the Poster of the Holy Land, the model of the BMW 3 series reveal that Derek treasured many people and held them close to his heart, and indicated why he was held in their heart.

One of Derek’s many achievements in Belvedere was to develop the role of Rector, which was a challenge given we are not residents in the school but we are a community almost without boundaries. His presence as a man who was reflective and invited reflection has had an impact on so many people and on so many different levels.

His dry wit often brightened the moment and his genuine question asking “How are you?...” was never followed by a hurried moment, he gave generously of his time and gave people space so they could take time out of their hurried day, to stop, think and enter that space where prayer leads us. That appreciation of the moment lay at the heart of so many memories of him either sharing a glass, or at a meal or on a journey in somewhere like Greece, Rome, with students, or for me, very fond memories of when we were setting up the Chinese Exchange or the Boston exchanges. In Hong Kong, climbing a steep hill, the hand drawn rickshaw pullers approached Derek and avoided both the late Barry O’ Leary and I. We joked that it was the result of old age being respected in China, he quipped that their reluctance to approach us was a justified concern for their back, given our weight!

These exchanges expanded the Jesuit network and helped develop the sense of being a community sharing our faith journey. As with his untiring work in Fundraising and on the Buildings Committee, and Jesuit Identity Committee, he was passionate in providing the right environment to nurture community, friendship and learning.

Derek’s publican background gave him the skills to be fully present to people, to hear their story and enter into it with them. That is why so many students hold his memory dearly and fondly. He was there, fully present, not just physically, but in his un-divided attention to them.

If you asked Derek how he was, he never complained, instead he would reply with something like, “looking down on the daisies, which is better than looking up at them!” Even when he lost his toe he made a joke of it, saying the coffin was getting lighter by the day, and that was another aspect of Derek that made him attractive, particularly to students, he was a bit of a rebel, could be anti-establishment, feared not death because he believed and yet remained true to all that was good.

When we went to Hong Kong, Derek met Fr Joseph Mallin SJ (102), the last surviving child of Michael Mallin, executed leader of the Easter Rising in 1916. Derek and he shared a Republican background and he was immensely proud to be Irish. The Coleman’s mustard, sitting on the shelf in his office, is probably the only British thing he would admit tasted good.
On the little table is the statue of the Holy Family, Joseph and Mary looking at Jesus as he learns the trade of carpentry. Joseph’s hand is raised, obviously in instruction, while Mary looks on with great pride in her son. Derek had that care and pride for the students as they grew in their apprenticeship of what would be their adult personality. He loved young people and loved the privilege of being involved in their life. Lastly there was the prayer on the wall, and I think it captures a lot of his apprenticeship humour and honesty.

“Dear God, so far today I’ve done alright, I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few minutes God, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then on I’m probably going to need a lot more help...”

Derek was that help for a lot of us and while extending our sympathy and condolences to his community and his family, I want to extend, on behalf of the Belvedere family, a sincere Thank You. For 16 years, we enjoyed Derek as chaplain, teacher, Form Tutor, Rector and Board member. You shared him with us and we are forever grateful for that. His soul will continue his work with the students and families and we gain strength from his example as a Jesuit, a priest, a friend and a companion.

May he rest in the peace of Christ. Gerry Foley

Early Education at St Mary’s Convent Arklow; SS Michael & John, Smock Alley, Dublin; De La Salle, Ballyfermot, Dublin; Mungret College SJ; Apprentice Solicitor & Barman

1967-1970 Rathfarnham - Studying Arts at UCD
1970-1971 Mungret College SJ - Regency : Teacher; Studying for H Dip in Education at UCD
1971-1976 Milltown Park - Studying Philosophy & Theology (integrated)
1974 Milltown Park - Administration at Irish School of Ecumenics
1976-1977 Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Studying Theology at Regis College
1977-1978 Tabor House - Vice-Superior; Minister; Assistant Director of Retreat House
1978-1980 Leave of Absence
1980-1982 Coláiste Iognáid SJ - Chaplain; Teacher
1982-1983 Tullabeg - Tertianship
1983-1989 Coláiste Iognáid SJ - Director of Pastoral Care; Teacher
1989-1990 Tabor - Vice-Superior; Young Adults Delegate; Assistant in Retreat House
1990-1999 Campion House - Vice-Superior; Young Adults Delegate; Assists Tabor House & JVC; Young Adult Ministry
1993 Superior at Campion
1995 Principal & Treasurer at University Hall
1996 Formation Delegate
1999-2001 Leeson St - Principal & Treasurer at University Hall; Young Adults & Formation Delegate
2000 Sabbatical
2001-2004 Belvedere College SJ - College Chaplain; Teacher
2002 Rector of Belvedere College SJ
2003 Superior of Gardiner St Community; Rector of Belvedere College SJ
2004-2017 Gardiner St - Superior of Gardiner St Community; Rector of Belvedere College SJ
2011 College Chaplain & Teacher at Belvedere College SJ
2012 Rector of Belvedere College SJ

Born: 23 May 1879, Glenatallan, Kilconickny, Loughrea, County Galway
Entered: 07 September 1900, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Died: 12 July 1953, Ranelagh, Dublin City, County Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: October 1900

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Dismissed from 1st probation. No Vocation

https://www.dib.ie/biography/fahy-francis-patrick-frank-a2988

Fahy, Francis Patrick (‘Frank’)
Contributed by
White, Lawrence William; Ferriter, Diarmaid

Forename: Francis, Patrick
Surname: Fahy
Nickname: Frank
Gender: Male
Career: Politics, Irish Language
Born 23 May 1879 in Co. Galway
Died 12 July 1953 in Co. Dublin

Fahy, Francis Patrick (‘Frank’) (1879–1953), politician and Irish-language activist, was born 23 May 1879 at Glenatallan, Kilconickny, Loughrea, Co. Galway, eldest among five sons and two daughters of John Fahy, teacher, and Maria Fahy (née Jones). After receiving initial education at his father's national school at Kilchreest, Co. Galway, he boarded at Mungret College, Limerick, and subsequently graduated from UCG with a BA and an H.Dip. in education and double diploma in science; he was also called to the bar in 1927 at King's Inns, Dublin. On leaving UCG he began teaching at the Christian Brothers' school in Tralee, and afterwards taught Latin, Irish, and science at St Vincent's College, Castleknock, Dublin (1906–21). Closely associated with Patrick Pearse (qv), Thomas MacDonagh (qv), and Arthur Griffith (qv), Fahy became a Gaelic League activist (and, later, general secretary of the league), and treasurer of the Kerry county board of the GAA. During school holidays he assisted Liam Mellows (qv) in organising units of the Irish Volunteers, of which he was a founding member, in his native area of east Galway. As captain of C Company, 1st Bn, Dublin Bde, under Edward Daly (qv), he commanded the contingent that occupied the Four Courts during the 1916 rising. Sentenced to ten years in prison, he spent terms in several British jails. Released in the general amnesty of June 1917, he was active in the reorganisation of the Volunteer movement, addressing public meetings throughout the country. Again arrested during the ‘German plot’ round-up of May 1918, he was deported without trial to Reading jail. Sinn Féin candidate in Galway South, he captured 85% of the vote in the December 1918 general election, trouncing the incumbent nationalist MP William John Duffy, who had held the seat for eighteen years, and commenced a thirty-five-year tenure representing several Galway constituencies that would conclude only in his death (Galway South,1918–21; Galway, 1921–37; Galway East, 1937–48; Galway South, 1948–53). A member of the first Dáil Éireann, he toured the Aran islands and Connemara on behalf of a committee examining options for revitalisation of the Irish fishing industry (a prominent feature of Sinn Féin's economic programme), and was appointed assistant minister for the national language under J. J. O'Kelly (qv). Continuing the while in his teaching post, and seeing active IRA service during the Anglo-Irish war, he is reputed to have appeared in his classroom with eyebrows singed on the day after the burning of the Custom House (25 May 1921). Although opposed to the Anglo-Irish treaty, Fahy took a more judicious and balanced approach to the issue than some of his republican colleagues, denouncing in dáil debate the intimidation of TDs by elements of the anti-treaty IRA. While asserting that, had the treaty been submitted unsigned to the dáil, it would have been rejected by an overwhelming majority, he refused to impugn the honour or integrity of the plenipotentiaries, and acknowledged their unenviable position in the London negotiations. Describing the agreement as a fait accompli on which further argument and decision must be based, he nonetheless asked: ‘Is not the declaration of the republic also a fait accompli, or have we been playing at republicanism?’ (Treaty debs., 195). He clung to the last of seven Galway seats as anti-treaty candidate in the June 1922 election. His approach, on behalf of a Gaelic League peace committee, to Austin Stack (qv) in the hope of arranging a truce during the civil war (December 1922) met with a guardedly favourable response from Éamon de Valera (qv), but was frustrated by the persisting expectations of military victory of the anti-treaty chief of staff, Liam Lynch (qv). Re-entering the dáil chamber with the new Fianna Fáil party in 1927, after the party's victory in the 1932 general election – in which he topped the poll in his constituency – he was elected ceann comhairle, a position he held till 1951, returned automatically to his dáil seat through seven general elections. He also became chairman of both the local appointments and the civil service commissions. Regarded as judicious and impartial in the speaker's chair, he retained the office even after Fianna Fáil's 1948 electoral defeat, perhaps also in recognition of the moderate position he had adopted on the treaty. In 1949 he led the Irish delegation to the meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at Stockholm, where he spoke of ‘unequal treaties’ and made a forthright statement opposing the partition of Ireland. He presided at the Inter-Parliamentary conference when it met in Dublin in 1950. The following year he resigned as ceann comhairle on health grounds. Fahy married (1908) Anna Barton from Tralee, a metal artist and active member of Cumann na mBan; they had no children. Resident at the time of the Easter rising at Islandbridge, during his lengthy dáil tenure they lived at addresses in Howth, Whitehall, and Dundrum. Still a sitting TD, he died on 12 July 1953 as a result of heart disease at his home in Ranelagh, Dublin.

Sources
GRO, Dublin; Dáil private sessions (1921–2); Dáil treaty debs. (1921–2); Flynn (1928–45); Ir. Times, Ir. Independent, 13 July 1953; Ir. Press, 15 July 1953; Piaras Béaslaí, ‘The North King Street area’, in Dublin's fighting story (1956?), 52; WWW; Breandán MacGiolla Choille (ed.), Intelligence notes 1913–16 (1966); Earl of Longford and T. P. O'Neill, Eamon de Valera (1970); C. Desmond Greaves, Liam Mellows and the Irish revolution (1971); Walker; James H. Murphy (ed.), Nos autem: Castleknock College and its contribution [1996]; Arthur Mitchell, Revolutionary government in Ireland: Dáil Éireann, 1919–22 (1995); 1916 rebellion handbook (1988 ed.); Timothy McMahon (ed.), Pádraig Ó Fathaigh's war of independence: recollections of a Galway Gaelic Leaguer (2000)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Fahy_(politician)

Frank Fahy (politician)

Francis Patrick Fahy (23 May 1879 – 12 July 1953) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1932 to 1951. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1919 to his death in 1953.[1]

He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for 35 years, first for Sinn Féin and later as a member of Fianna Fáil, before becoming Ceann Comhairle (chairman) for over 19 years.[2]

Early life and revolutionary period
Fahy was born on 23 May 1879 in the townland of Glanatallin, Kilchreest, County Galway,[3] the eldest of 6 children born to John Fahy and Maria Jones. His father taught at the local National School. After an early education at his father's school in Kilchreest, he attended Mungret College in County Limerick. He later studied at University College Galway. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a H.Dip. in Education, and a Diploma in Science. From 1906 to 1921 he taught Latin, Irish and Science at Castleknock College (St Vincent's College), Dublin. Fahy qualified as a barrister in 1927 at King's Inns, Dublin and also taught at the Christian Brothers school in Tralee. He was at one time General Secretary of the Conradh na Gaeilge. He married Anna Barton of Tralee, a metal artist and member of the Cumann na mBan in 1908. They had no children.[2]

As Company Captain of C Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers, Fahy commanded the contingent that occupied the Four Courts during the 1916 rising. Arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison, he spent terms in several British jails. Released in the general amnesty of June 1917, he was active in the reorganisation of the Volunteer movement, addressing public meetings throughout the country.[2] Fahy later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded 5 and 1/6 years service in 1937 at Grade D for his service with the Irish Volunteers from 23 April 1916 to June 1917.[4]

Fahy was first elected at the 1918 general election as a Sinn Féin Member of Parliament (MP) for Galway South, but as the party was pledged to abstentionism he did not take his seat in the British House of Commons and joined the revolutionary First Dáil. He was re-elected as TD for Galway in 1921 general election and having sided with the anti-treaty forces following the Anglo-Irish Treaty, he did not take his seat in either the 3rd Dáil or the 4th Dáil. He joined Fianna Fáil when the party was founded in 1926, and along with the 42 other Fianna Fáil TDs he took his seat in the 5th Dáil on 12 August 1927,[5] three days before the Dáil tied 71 votes to 71 on a motion of no confidence in W. T. Cosgrave's Cumann na nGaedheal government (a tie broken by the Ceann Comhairle).[6] After the government won two by-elections later that month, it dissolved the Dáil, leading to a fresh election.

After the September 1927 election, Cosgrave was able to form a minority government with the support of the Farmers' Party and some independent TDs. However, in the 1932 general election, Fianna Fáil won just under half of the seats and formed a government with the support of the Labour Party. The first business was of the 7th Dáil was the election of the Ceann Comhairle, and on 9 March 1932 Fahy was nominated for the position by Seán T. O'Kelly, winning the vote by a margin of 78 to 71.[7]

He held the post until Fianna Fáil lost the 1951 election, and at the start of the 14th Dáil he did not offer himself for re-election as Ceann Comhairle. He was succeeded by the Labour TD Patrick Hogan.[8] His 19 years in the chair remains the longest of any Ceann Comhairle, with the only other person to exceed 10 years as Ceann Comhairle being his successor, Patrick Hogan.[9]

The 1932 election was the last which Fahy contested; as Ceann Comhairle, he was automatically re-elected at the next seven elections. When his Galway constituency was divided for the 1937 general election, he was returned unopposed for the new Galway East, and similarly in 1948 for the new Galway South constituency.[10]

Fahy died on 12 July 1953,[11] and is buried at Deans Grange Cemetery, Dublin. The Galway South by-election held after his death was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Robert Lahiffe.[12]

References
"Frank Fahy". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
White, Lawrence William; Ferriter, Diarmaid. "Fahy, Francis Patrick". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
"General Registrar's Office" (PDF). IrishGenealogy.ie. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
Irish Military Archives, Military Service (1916-1923) Pension Collection, Frank Fahy, MSP34REF37327. Available online at http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced.
"Dáil Éireann debates, Volume 20, 12 August 1927: New deputies take their seats". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
"PUBLIC BUSINESS. – NO CONFIDENCE MOTION – Dáil Éireann (5th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 August 1927. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved
"Election of Ceann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (7th Dáil) – Vol. 41 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 March 1932. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
"Dáil Éireann debates, Volume 126, 13 June 1951: Election of Ceann Comhairle". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
"Former office holders". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
"Frank Fahy". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
"Death of Mr Frank Fahy TD". Derry Journal. 13 July 1953 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"Galway South by-election, 21 August 1953". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 8 January 2008.

Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office 9 March 1932 – 13 June 1951
Preceded by Michael Hayes
Succeeded by Patrick Hogan

Teachta Dála
In office May 1951 – 12 July 1953
Constituency Galway South

In office July 1937 – May 1951
Constituency Galway East

In office May 1921 – July 1937
Constituency Galway

In office December 1918 – May 1921
Constituency Galway South

Personal details
Born Francis Patrick Fahy
23 May 1879
Kilchreest, County Galway, Ireland
Died 12 July 1953 (aged 73)
Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland
Resting place Deans Grange Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland
Political party Fianna Fáil
Spouse Anna Barton ​(m. 1908)​
Education Mungret College
Alma mater University College Galway