Michael O’Hare RIP (1957 - 2025)

Michael O’Hare joined the

Michael O'Hare

Dominican Order after his Leaving Cert at Synge Street CBS. On completion of the noviciate in Pope’s Quay in Cork he moved to Tallaght to begin his studies. About the same time his 18-year-old brother died and Michael made the decision to leave the Order. 

I lost contact with him until approximately 2005 when one day I met him outside the offices of Concern Worldwide, where I was working. Michael was the postman in the area. Over a period of 10 years we regularly met. Because both of us were at our jobs when we met, we never could spend too much time chatting. 

But in all that time I never once heard Michael say a negative word about anyone. His smile was infectious. It was impossible to walk away from him without having a spring in your step.

At his Requiem Mass in St Kevin’s Harrington Street yesterday it was made abundantly clear that his smile, positive thinking and genuine care for others was greatly appreciated by the large attendance at his funeral Mass.

Michael died suddenly and unexpectedly last week. And up to that time he was caring for his mother who is in her 90s.

The eulogy was delivered by his brother Bernard and the parish priest Fr Gerard Deighan preached the sermon. Both men spoke in glowing terms about the kindness, love and faith of Michael, who had close links to his parish church, where he read on Sundays and spent some time as a member of  the parish council.

Present in the church yesterday I had no choice but to keep thinking what a loss Michael was to the Irish Dominicans.

On our last time to chat we decided we’d meet ‘shortly’ for a coffee. Unfortunately, it never happened.

Michael died in St Vincent’s Hospital on Sunday, March 12.

May he rest peace.