A Death in Ireland

A friend of mine, Terence, was buried today. My wife, my two youngest children, and I attended the funeral. We were all close to Terence, who is survived by his wife, two children, one grandchild, and several siblings, who also have children. Terence was a sincere friend, a highly educated man, who spoke several languages, including Irish and Biblical Hebrew. He was born circa 1943. Until he retired, he was the head of the examinations office at University College Dublin (“UCD”). His grandfather was the first Irish ambassador to Spain. At his funeral, I met the local aristocracy. I met a granddaughter of Eamon de Valera. Her mother died when she was four, and she was raised by her grandparents. I also met a granddaughter Sean T O’Kelly. This is sort of like meeting a grandchild of President Washington or President Van Buren. My children went to a primary school here in Ireland. That school’s retired principal, from around the time my children attended, was also at the funeral. He is a Manx speaker, and would be visiting the Isle of Man in consequence of the death of a friend there. Who knew?

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘A Death in Ireland,’ New Reform Club (July 9, 2026, 5:26 PM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-death-in-ireland.html>;