Former Omagh school principal dies

TRIBUTES have been paid to Colm MacRory who was former principal of St Conor’s Primary School in Omagh for several decades.

Mr MacRory, aged 87, passed away peacefully at his home in Deerpark, Omagh yesterday morning (Wednesday).

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he was principal in St Conor’s PS with a multitude of pupils benefiting from his expertise.

He received his teaching qualifications in St Mary’s College, Belfast before taking up a position in St Patrick’s College in Omagh. From there he was appointed principal in the old Culmore School on the Tamlaght Road (where the scout hall now stands) before it was relocated to the Brookmount Road and named St Conor’s.

Describing his former primary school as an “old-school educationalist”, local solicitor Adrian O’Kane said, “Every pupil who stepped through St Conor’s received a quality education and the memories of Master MacRory endure to this day. In the early 70s, he headed up a modern urban school, assisted by teaching staff from the original Culmore school, such as Miss Mossey and a new innovative breed of teachers including Gerry Raflewski. Master MacRory’s great legacy carried on long after he retired.”

Mr MacRory will be laid to rest this morning (Thursday) with Requiem Mass to take place in Sacred Heart Church in Omagh on Monday which will be attended by close family only due to current Covid-19 restrictions.

He is surived by his wife Philomena (nee O’Sullivan), sons and daughters Seán, Maire (Taggart), Philomena (Matear), Colm, Claire (Hagan) and Simon, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a wide family circle.

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