RIP Leon Briody, aged 9, a beloved member of Castletara N.S. who passed away in the loving arms of his family on 11/09/25.

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The school community want to extend their deepest sympathy to Leon’s mum Diane, dad Alan, brothers Fionnan and Caolán, little sister Allie, grandmother Eileen who is also our work colleague and all his extended family.

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Leon also has so many cousins and friends in our school whose hearts are broken. We just want you to know that we will always be here to help and look after you all as the days and weeks pass.

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The children in school knew that Leon was very sick, sometimes that was quite visible to see when he had to wear his little tube for feeding in Junior infants or when he had his special chair to sit in, but they don’t remember this when they think of Leon.

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When we asked the children to talk about Leon a few days ago. They spoke about their friend Leon, their classmate, a boy who loved his football, loved to get up to mischief and loved to put a smile on people’s faces. Whenever you mentioned Leon’s name in school to either children or staff their eyes would brighten, and then some might burst out laughing because they thought of a funny story or something witty, he had said.

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Here are some of things the children said about Leon in their own words

Leon was so so funny, he made us all laugh.

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I remember Leon’s smiles.

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Leon loved to knee slide after scoring a goal.

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Leon was a professional footballer.

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Leon was brave, strong and happy.

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Leon was a great friend.

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All the staff loved Leon too, but  we all know he had a special relationship with his SNA Sabrina and didn’t mind throwing her under the bus either.  On one occasion in class, the teacher had asked the children to work away quietly, there was a bit of whispering going on at the back of the room and the teacher asked; who’s doing all that talking, quick as you Like Leon shouts up,

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IT’S SABRINA!! And he winked at her and said “now Sabrina you are in trouble with teacher!”

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Leon also didn’t mind rustling up some business for his dad’s garage in school. When Ms. Tierney’s car had broken down, Leon offered for his dad to fix it. However, it came at a high price. He said
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“I’m going to get my dad to fix your car but it will cost you 1000 euro and I’m going to go shopping for toys with the money.”

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Sadly, Leon couldn’t be with us in school everyday but when he was out and about during school time, people would ask him,
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“are you not in school today Leon?” and his reply was, “my daddy say’s I’m too bright for school.”

Leon showed tremendous strength and courage throughout his illness, but to us he wasn’t just a sick boy, he was our Leon, bright, funny, caring with wicked sense of humour. He was a very special person who had that gift of making people happy, just by being himself.
Thank you, Leon for being part of our lives. Your infectious smile and laugh will live with on with us, in the classrooms, throughout the corridors, the yard, the football field. Goodbye for now Leon, and your dad was right ‘you were too bright for school’

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Tara Brady Principal
& The pupils and Staff of Castletara N.S.

Thanks to the children and parents who organised for Shoe Boxes to be delivered to Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal.

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Well Done to all.

This year 5^thclass are taking turns being “Kindness Ambassadors” in our school. Every Friday they look out for kind behaviour on yard. They also ask the teachers if they have spotted any random acts of kindness. The kindness ambassadors reward this kind behaviour with a sticker.

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind”

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