Tulla mourns death of community man

The community of Tulla was thrown into sadness recently at the death of Brian Culloo, the former principal of Drumcharley and St Mochulla National Schools.

The 76-year-old Tulla native passed away on April 21 last and is fondly remembered as having a firm role to play in community life.
He began his teaching career in Dublin having graduated from St Patrick’s College and returned to Tulla after a few years to take on the position of principal at Drumcharley National School.
When the school was amalgamated he went on to become principal of St Mochulla’s National School in Tulla and remained there until his retirement in 1995.
Mr Culloo also had a keen interest in music and was a founding member of the local Comhaltas branch and was involved in organising the first Fleadh in 1958. Noted as a local historian he was well known for his project to preservation of the church ruin on the Hill of Tulla, where St Mochulla built his monastery in 520AD. He was heavily involved in promoting St Mochulla’s life and history as the patron saint of Tulla.
Mr Culloo is now buried in the Tulla Cemetery on this site.
Not only had Mr Culloo a keen interest in local history but also in sport and he was a co-founder member of the Clare Primary School Hurling League with Brendan Vaughan. The Culloo-Vaughan Cup is now handed out for the Division One of the Clare Schools Hurling League.
He also had a keen interest in politics.
Mr Culloo was due to attend the 40-year reunion of Drumcharley National School on June 5 next and the organising committee have said they were deeply saddened by his passing.
“He will be a sad loss to the reunion. He was the first person approached about this almost two years ago. Three weeks ago he took part in our five-mile charity walk for the event and he was delighted to be able to do the walk and he was looking forward to the reunion.
“He was a great man, and he will be a great loss, he was so heavily involved and anything that was needed all we had to do was ask him and he would help out. He got the role book from 1940 and translated it into English so we could track people down and invite them to attend the reunion.
“He went above and beyond the call of duty. He had a great memory and he was a good man for the stories and for the history so he will be missed,” Pat McNamara of the Drumcharley National School reunion committee said.
Shortly before his death Brian had compiled a brief history of Drumcharley National School and it is hoped that a booklet with this information will be printed and made available at the reunion next month.
Brian Culloo is survived by his wife Anne; his four sons, Patrick, Fergal, Tiernan, Brian; his daughter, Marian, his sister, Annie, and his grandchildren.