Rita Hickey

The last teacher link to Millstreet's first secondary college Colaiste Padraig from life has passed away Which brings back old memories of a long bygone day With her late husband Garrett and Joe Garvey and Miss McAuliffe she taught in the West End for many years And her passing in Millstreet will not go without tears A good mother to her children and to Garrett a good wife Like many she knew of the good and sad days of life Predeceased by two of her children she had her crosses to bear Of sorrows she was one who knew of her share Rita Hickey nee Kelly her associations with Millstreet goes back decades in time She was in her nineties years past her life's prime Though she died in Fermoy in Duhallow she was widely known And in Millstreet many will mourn the passing of one of their own Colaiste Padraig in the West End of Millstreet closed down years ago Going way back in time half a century or so The changes keep happening and time ticks on fast And only the memories remain of the past In St Mary's Cemetery by Cashman's Hill in Millstreet her last remains lay For all of us there is this last night and day Hope her passing from life for her was a painless release Rita Hickey nee Kelly may she now rest in peace.