A much respected and gifted teacher from Moylough, Co Galway, Father Boyle was at Princethorpe from 1968 to 1977, adding his expertise to the English Department, which he ultimately headed up, also becoming superior of the MSC community and a member of the Provincial Council. He was a keen and able sportsman, universally respected and was responsible for establishing an English language summer school for Spanish children at Princethorpe.

On leaving the MSCs to get married, he taught in a secondary school in Dublin. He and his wife had four children – all girls – one of whom, Claudia Boyle, is a revered opera singer. Fr Nick Harnan MSC and Fr Tony Horgan MSC (OP) recall a colleague who was instantly likeable and was outstanding in the classroom. “As the old, deconsecrated, parish church was being transformed into a gymnasium, he was responsible for making it suitable also as a basketball court. He became professionally qualified as a coach and referee and soon basketball was established as an important part of the school sports curriculum”. They continue: “TJ was a great PR man for Princethorpe, very much in communication with staff in English departments in other local schools, looking for ways to collaborate in order to improve the English department”.

Former pupils from the Year of 1975 recall an able and popular teacher, who was fair, fun, business-like and cool! Chris Evans writes: “It’s probably certain that not one of us was anything other than seriously impressed with him, even though we were a bunch of cynical folk, full of our own self-worth, a.k.a. teenagers!” Greg Morse continues: “Fr Boyle was an exemplary teacher. We were all lucky to have known him and have the benefit of his input to our care while we were at Princethorpe.” Kevin Marchant, who along with a number of other boarders, arrived at Princethorpe from a closing Franciscan-run school at Stony Stratford, recalls: “When we arrived at Princethorpe, Fr Boyle ‘reffed’ our very first game of basketball. He had his umpire collar turned up, immaculate basketball trainers and was chewing gum. I immediately thought ‘who’s this cool cat?’” Martin Holland recalls “an excellent English teacher and a really good and kind person”; Melvin Glynn concurs: “Fr TJ was a great guy and a great teacher; he taught us all very well I think”. Fr Boyle is pictured with the 1975-76 Basketball team here.

The funeral Mass took place on Thursday 28 December 2023 in Dublin.

APD
04 February 2025