Kells pays tribute to former teacher as road named in honour of him

A large crowd gathered in Kells on Monday to honour former local teacher, the late Jim Brunnock, as the road serving the local schools and swimming pool was officially named 'Jim Brunnock Road'. The cathaoirleach of Kells Town Council, Cllr Brian Collins, dedicated the stretch of road in honour of the late Mr Brunnock. There were tributes from Christy McCormack, a former colleague, and Michael Brunnock, Jim's eldest son who flew in from New York especially for the occasion. The new nameplate was then unveiled by Jim's young grandson and namesake, Jim Brunnock, and his widow, Mrs Anna Bruddock. Cllr Collins described Mr Brunnock as his neighbour, teacher and friend. "I don't think that Jim ever truly saw or appreciated the depth of affection, love, admiration and respect that this community had for him. "He was, of course, blinded to that truth by the very qualities that made him such a treasure in the town - his decency, his gentility, his quiet humility. Naming a road after Jim is a small payment for such an extraordinary life of service to education and to community," he said. Christy McCormack said it was fitting that the road serving the educational campus was named after Jim Brunnock who was involved so much in the development of education in Kells. Michael Brunnock paid tribute to his father who "had a humble outlook, saw beauty equally in a well-solved equation, well-grown vegetables or well-drilled scrum". The ceremony was followed by refreshment in the Headfort Arms Hotel. Among those who attended were Jim's wife and children and members of his family in Tipperary, who had travelled to Kells for the occasion. Jim Brunnock was an extremely popular teacher in Kells for over 40 years and passed away in October 1999. He arrived in Kells in 1959 to begin the first of 40 years teaching in the town. From a small farm in Araglen, on the Galtee mountains in Co Tipperary, he was one of eight children. He was taught by the Presentation Brothers in Cork and studied in UCC and taught in Cork and Bray, before he began teaching in Kells. In his 73 years, he influenced and touched the lives of many people positively, both in and out of the classroom.