Eibhlinn O’Byrne

Died 15th October 2013

Eibhlínn was a daughter of James J O’Byrne, a Republic Revolutionary and teacher who fought in the Easter Rising in 1916. Having served time in Frognoch, Wales, he returned to Dublin and worked as a teacher. Along with Margaret Pearse, he founded Árd Scoil Éanna in 1939

Eiblinn was one of twelve children (5 boys and 7 girls). Together with her sister Réitlín they took over the teaching and management of Árd Scoil Éanna, Crumlin Road.

Eibhlín passed away peacefully on October 15, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her parents, the late James and Esther O’Byrne of Ardscoil Éanna, Crumlin Road and her brothers Tom, Aindréas, Séamus, Seán and Peadar and by her sisters Kathleen, Eithne, Réiltín, Margaret and Dolores. Her funeral mass took place in Our Lady of Good Counsel RC Church, Drimnagh on 18th October, 2013 with burial in the O’Byrne family plot at Glasnevin Cemetery afterwards.

Following the closure of Árdschoil Éanna on June 3rd, 2016, Dublin City Council purchased Franshaw House and its surrounding site for development of the new Crumlin/Drimnagh Library. Although the communities of Crumlin and Drimnagh have lost a piece of history, the ethos of the school will be reborn by the provision of free education within the library.