Tributes paid to late nun who made huge impact in Clare

WARM tributes have been paid following the death of Sr Bosco Griffin of Tulla, described by the Bishop of Killaloe as “a truly remarkable woman”, who made a deep impression at home and abroad, writes Fiona McGarry.
Born in County Roscommon in 1941, Sr Bosco was a much-loved member of the community since she came to Tulla in 1981 to teach at St Joseph’s Secondary School.
At requiem mass on Saturday last (July 10), Bishop Fintan Monahan paid tribute to Sr Bosco’s decades-long contribution to many pastoral and community organisations, which included the running of the annual Matt Talbot Novena in Tulla.
She was also involved with Apostolic Work Society, the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, Killaloe Diocesan Vocations Committee, the Youth 2000 Prayer Group and the Ennis Cathedral Eucharistic Adoration Group.
Bridget Mary Griffin was the eldest of three children born to the late Michael Griffin and Eileen Hurley of Ballymacurley. Bridie, as she was affectionately known, entered the Sisters of Mercy in Nenagh and took the name John Bosco.
She made her profession on August 17, 1967 and taught at St Mary’s Secondary School in Nenagh until 1980 before coming to Tulla a year later.
“I can only imagine the changes in church and society that Sr Bosco must have encountered since leaving her beloved Roscommon in 1961 to enter the convent in Nenagh,” Bishop Fintan said in his homily.
“After receiving her Science Degree and HDip in UCD, she immersed herself in the school lives of both Nenagh and Tulla, teaching Science and Maths and, in later years, Career Guidance.
“She became so much part of the fabric of St Joseph’s Secondary School and it was no mistake that her name in religion was the patron saint of young people, St John Bosco. “Having a fantastic way with young folk, right up to Covid times, herself and Fr Brendan Lawlor, they continued a remarkable ministry of presence and pastoral care, meeting and greeting every student inside the door each morning at St Joseph’s.”
The bishop also shared his own memories of Sr Bosco, including a dance lesson she gave to a well-known RTÉ sports broadcaster.
“I’ll never forget her at the West County Hotel a few years ago, after the John Paul II Awards ceremony, she was giving jiving lessons to Marty Morrissey in an effort to smarten him up for ‘Dancing with the Stars’,” Bishop Fintan recalled.
“She was a remarkable character by any standards – an outstanding follower of the Mercy charism, a true ambassador of Catherine McAuley and a most genuine and pleasantly strident and effective disciple of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Fintan added.

RIP Sr Bosco. An outstanding & faithfilled woman! https://t.co/YJpwjJ7tBX

— + Fintan Monahan (@BishopFintan) July 8, 2021

“The several hundred comments on RIP.ie and social media over the past few days are an amazing testament to the huge impact that she had on so many lives, with her enthusiasm for outreach along with her genuineness, her transparent goodness, her other-worldliness and her holiness.”
Fr Brendan Quinlivan told The Champion Sr Bosco would be remembered for her tireless work and her impact on communities close to home and further afield.
“She did huge work in promoting the missions,” he said. “For years, she was a fixture at the car boot sale in Tuamgraney and raised tens of thousands of euros for clinics and schools overseas.”
Fr Brendan described Sr Bosco’s impact on young people as huge. “She was still so well able to connect with students long after she retired from teaching,” he said.
“She would have a tray of miraculous medals on the day of exams and give one to every student. People had a great belief in the power of her prayer.
“She would say, ‘I’ll say your name to Jesus’. People had great confidence that she would and that he would listen. Bosco will be deeply missed.”
At requiem mass, Carmel Moroney, Secretary of Tulla Parish Pastoral Council described the deep sense of sorrow in the community.
“While our sadness is great, it is tinged with a profound sense of gratitude to God, for allowing us to experience his love through the live and ministry of Sr Bosco,” she said.
Sr Bosco’s great sense of humour, her skill in solving crossword puzzles and her love of knitting were also recalled.
Sympathies were extended to her family, the Sisters of Mercy, particularly as well as with Sr Eileen Callinan, Sr Ita Quinn and Sr Annette Sexton, with whom she shared her home.
A special mention was extended, too, to Fr Lawlor, whom Sr Bosco credited with saving her life when she suffered a stroke 12 years ago.
Sr Bosco is survived by her brother Bernie and sister-in-law Ita; her niece Lorraine Wills, and nephew-in-law Dave; and her grandnieces Megan and Sophie.
Last Saturday, the people of Tulla lined the streets, keeping a social distance, as Sr Bosco’s funeral cortege travelled from Church Road, to Main Street and on to St Peter and Paul’s Church.
Her requiem mass was concelebrated by Bishop Fintan Monahan, Fr Brendan Quinlivan, PP of Tulla; Fr Brendan Lawlor, AP and Fr Martin O’Brien, retired PP. Also attending were Bishop elect of Ferns, Fr Ger Nash, Fr Martin Blake, Fr Michael Sheedy and Sr Canice Hanrahan, community leader for the Sisters of Mercy.
Sr Bosco was laid to rest in Oran Cemetery, County Roscommon, alongside her parents and her late brother, Tommie.