As a son of Margaret O’Connor, growing up in Holywood in the 1980s, I used to think that if I had a pound for every time someone said my mum had taught them, I would be very rich.
In the days after her death, our grief was immeasurably helped by the flood of people who called at the family home, swapping their memories and stories.
So many recalled being taught by Margaret and the stories flowed about children going on “teddy bears’ picnics” to her house at My Lady’s Mile. There were also plenty of happy, funny memories about all sorts of school pets that were cared for over the years by her.
Margaret enriched the lives of so many pupils and we heard stories about how she would always go the extra yard, like bringing school work to a pupil in hospital.
She was also remembered because of people’s happy memories of My Lady’s Mile. This was a house where everyone was welcome and was filled with love, laughter and many parties.
Margaret was born in Leeds in 1945, to Susan and Patrick O’Brien, who had gone over to England.
They soon returned, living first in a little house in Craigantlet, Co Down called “Noah’s Ark” before settling back in Holywood.
There, she grew up with her two brothers and three sisters, saying to one of them, Gabrielle, that when she grew up she wanted to be either a nun or a teacher.
Margaret chose teaching. After attending St Patrick’s Primary School in Holywood and St Dominic’s Grammar School in Belfast along with her sisters, she trained at St Mary’s college.
Whilst training, aged 19, she was enjoying a night out at the Orpheus dance hall when she met her future husband Seamus.
They married in 1970 and, after living for a time in Belfast, moved to My Lady’s Mile in Holywood in 1973.
This was a very happy, loving home enjoyed by children Eamon, Catherine, Ciara and then Eimear, who arrived as an unexpected bonus when Margaret was 42.
It was back at St Patrick’s PS, Holywood that Margaret got her first and only ever job in teaching.
She taught there for 32 years until retirement. Margaret was a great teacher and Primary 2 was her class.
After retiring, Margaret became a pupil again. Spanish classes turned into a GCSE and the certificate was proudly displayed in the bathroom.
She used these skills as she and Seamus enjoyed travelling all over the world, from Argentina to Australia, to see her sister Gabrielle and daughter Eimear, and to South Africa, Las Vegas and even Antarctica.
Unfortunately, these happy travels were halted when Margaret started to suffer the effects of Alzheimer’s. Seamus lovingly looked after her in their home in Demesne Road until she passed away on December 21 2023.
Margaret was a great role model and teacher for many. Thank you Margaret, Mum, for teaching and looking after all of us.
You will be lovingly remembered by your husband Seamus, children Eamon, Catherine, Ciara and Eimear, and grandchildren Declan, Aidan, Ava, Aoife, Etain and Fintan.
Eamon O’Connor