'One of life's gentlemen' : Tributes to Derry teaching and music legend Giles Doherty
Tributes have been paid to talented Derry musician and former school headmaster Giles Doherty following his passing on Sunday.
Mr Doherty, who was also a former chair, committee member and life long proponent of Feis Dhore ColmCille, passed away peacefully at Deanfield Nursing Home, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr Doherty was highly respected across the city, not least in Galliagh where he was School Principal to generations of children at Slievemore Primary School, now St. Paul’s, in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. A gifted musician, Mr Doherty was also previously a teacher at Rosemount Boys Primary School.
Mr Doherty is the beloved husband of Josephine, and loving father of Andrew, Deirdre, Fionnuala and Giles, and the dear father-in-law to Maria, Paul, Damien and Rachel.
He was also described as “a devoted grandfather to his 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren”, and a “dear and loving brother” of Kathleen and the late Andrew, as well as being “a caring uncle to all his nieces and nephews”.
Prayers were being said on Tuesday for Mr Doherty and his family at the whole school assembly at St Paul’s Primary School.
In a statement the school said: “Our entire school community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former Principal, Giles Doherty.
"Mr Doherty served as Principal of our school — then known as Slievemore — from its opening in 1977 until his retirement in 1991, and he is remembered with great respect for his leadership and dedication. We will pray for Mr Doherty and will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time. May he rest in peace.”
The Committee of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille was also among the first to express their sadness and sympathies to Mr Doherty’s wife and family this week.
In a statement the committee posted: "Giles’ lifelong association with and appreciation for the feis began when he competed as a young boy and grew even more when he began his career as a teacher when he produced many successful feis choirs throughout those years. Added to this, Giles spent many years as a stage steward and piano accompanist at the feis.
"In 1996, Giles took over as the chair of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille having served a stint as deputy chair. It was a role which he retired from in 2016. His two decades of service as leader of the feis were characterised by his gentlemanly and calm demeanor and an obvious love for the institution that he had nurtured from boyhood and cherished for the remainder of his life.”
When the centenary of the Feis was celebrated in 2022, Giles gave an interview for the book that marked the momentous event.
He said: “I think the impact of the feis has been massive. The whole thing has been good for the city and that’s why, when I became involved, I stuck with it. I remember lodging money from the feis at the Bank of Ireland in Sackville Street and the girl behind the counter told me about her days as a competitor. But that’s what it was like; you met so many people who had been involved by singing a song, or saying a poem, or dancing or being in choirs.”
Also among the many paying tribute were former pupils of Mr Doherty’s with one man posting: “I have fond memories of being taught by Giles at Rosemount Primary. One of life's gentlemen. RIP’.
Another former pupil described him as an ‘absolute legend of a man’. “So many fond memories of him as wee child on school. So supportive RIP Mr Doherty,” she penned.
Another woman wrote: “Giles was an absolute gentleman and the best principal ever. He still remembered me many, many, many years after after primary school. Rest in peace Giles x"