Padraig Micheal O'Cleirigh

Peacefully, on December 5, 2024, at St Joseph's Health Centre, Guelph, of a very rapidly progressing form of Alzheimer's, at the age of 82. Survived by his wife Barbara, sons Michael (Xi) and Ciaran (Michele), daughter Maureen (Jon), and four grandchildren. Also by his siblings Ciaran, Eithne, Ronan and Donal, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by his parents Patrick and Maureen, sisters Fiona, Nuala and Siobhan, and infant grandson Patrick Leo.

Padraig was born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland on September 28, 1942. He joined the Redemptorist Order as a youth and stayed with them until after he received his M.A. from University College Galway. He emigrated to the U.S. to do his PhD at Cornell University, and met Barbara while on a post-doctoral fellowship at Dalhousie University in Halifax. They married in 1977 and in 1979 they came to Guelph, where he taught Classics at U of G. He retired in 2020 at the age of 78.

Padraig was sociable, generous, and kind. His sense of humour was deep and subtle, and his laugh irresistible, especially when he was so overcome with the punchline that he couldn't finish the joke. He never had an unkind word to say about anyone. He loved poetry, wine and bad puns, his family, his students and his native Ireland.

He was fluent in four languages, could read about half a dozen more, and was always willing to start learning another one. When asked, Why study an ancient language, he would say, It has a worthwhile literature. This was his subject, the noble expression of human experience in words of penetrating beauty. Poetry, drama, art and music, especially opera, were what spoke to his heart. He was glad to have colleagues and friends with the same interests, and was delighted when he could kindle in his students a spark of fascination with the ancient world and the joys of Greek and Latin.

In 2016 the Padraig O'Cleirigh Scholarship was founded, as an annual award whose goal is to support and encourage undergraduate students in the humanities. We would be very grateful for memorial donations to this scholarship fund in memory of Padraig, and to honour his commitment to his students over so many years. The link to the donation page of the website is https://humanitiesbridge.ca/support-scholarship.You may also send an e-transfer to [email protected]

The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 15 at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph, from 1:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00. The Funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of Our Lady on Monday, December 16 at 10:30 a.m. The livestream can be followed at this link https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/100693 which will remain up for 90 days. Following the Mass, Padraig's ashes will be laid to rest in Marymount Cemetery alongside his beloved infant grandson Patrick Leo O'Cleirigh (2012).