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| Late Fr Michael Kennedy (aka Emuke) 1926 - 2007 |
One question we need to be asking ourselves is this: Are we going to let the selflessness of these caring people go to waste? These men (and women too!) dedicated their lives to what they believed in, and we are beneficiaries of this (as I've been told several times by several people). What can we do for Loyola College Ibadan to pay back some of the debt we owe it? How can we keep the legacy going? How can we continue to be the best in every way? Most of these people have died, but their legacies live after them. Your comments will be appreciated.
Read on:
Fr Micheál (Hálai) Kennedy passed away on the morning of Monday, 26 March 2007 at about 06.35 in the South Charitable Infirmary, Cork. He had been hospitalised for just over a week and his condition deteriorated rapidly over that time. He had been in poor health for some years which he spent in St Theresa's Nursing Unit at Blackrock Road, Cork.
Hálai was born in Tralee, Co Kerry on 18 August 1926. He received his early education in CBS, Tralee. Deciding to become a missionary, he came to SMA (Society of African Missions) in 1945 and studied at the Society's houses at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway (philosphy) and at Dromantine, Newry, Co Down (Theology). He became a permanent member of SMA on 12 June 1950. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 June 1951 at St Catherine's Dominican Church, Newry.
After ordination, he studied at UCC where he read Science and completed a brilliant academic career when he graduated with an MSc degree. He was then assigned for missionary work in Nigeria, to the Prefecture Apostolic of Ibadan (which in 1958 became the Diocese of Ibadan). He was appointed to the teaching staff of Loyola College, Ibadan, which was founded in 1954, and he spent his entire missionary career there.
He quickly became renowned as a teacher, and in 1965 he was appointed Principal of the College, a post he continued to hold until 1980. Under his leadership Loyola College, Ibadan built up a reputation for academic excellence in the West of Nigeria, and indeed the whole country, and many of its past pupils have gone on to achieve positions of importance in the business, legal, medical, educational and political sectors of that great country. The list is endless. The loyalty of these past students to their capable and dedicated Principal is an earnest indication of the great influence Fr Hálai has had on the lives and careers of so many of them.
He was one in a million who worked tirelessly to take the school into new heights, and by the time I did my common entrance examination in 1971, there was only one place to go. For a school that had no support whatsoever from the state to outperform those funded by the then Western State in all disciplines, it took dedication, hard work and selflessness. Academics and sports were seamlessly interwoven with respect, team building, confidence and pride in the school as part of the school curricular, with resulting excellent achievements in all... most schools quiz and sports competitions we won with ease. Certie results were excellent year in year out. Epic football finals in my time included Loyola v Olivet (Omitola Cup final1972) which we won comfortably. I deliberately blanked out the 1971 final against Aquinas College. That was a painful 1 - nil loss. We also won several trophies in athletics and Lawn Tennis and some of our old boys went on to represent Nigeria at international level. The trophy cabinet in the Principal's office bears testimony to this....full to bursting.
It was also during Emukay's tenure that the school established the Army Cadets Force. The only other school in the West to boast of this was Government College, Ibadan. Members were instructed by professional soldiers, and they went on to win many "Marching" contests organised as part of the Independence Day celebrations at the Liberty Stadium. What good times!
In 1980, he was forced to retire because of ill-health. Convalescing at Wilton, he continued to make a valuable contribution to SMA as a lecturer in Sacred Scripture to the students during their Spiritual Year there.
He continued to reside in Wilton, in retirement until 1997. Then in the face of debilitating illness he moved to the St Theresa's Nursing Unit, Blackrock Road where he died in March 2007.
I think one could easily surmise that Late Rev Father Michael Kennedy has been the most influential principal the school has ever had.
I think one could easily surmise that Late Rev Father Michael Kennedy has been the most influential principal the school has ever had.
Though time may pass and fade away, his memories will always stay.
Please watch the attached video for details of this year's Loyo Day.
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