Noel Coghlan, class '57
In Memoriam
Second Lieut. Noel Coghlan, Royal Artillery
The Union is saddened to hear of the passing of Noel Coghlan, class '57.
The death has occurred of Noel John COGHLAN
Hillcrest Park, Lucan, Dublin and Auderghem, Brussels, Belgium / late of Swinford, Mayo
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April 20, 2017 (peacefully), at Institut Jules Bordet Hospital, retired member of the European Union civil service; deeply regretted by his loving partner, Yuriko Ito, his children, Urszula, Jan, Maria (Misia), Anna (Hania), Teresa (Renia), Barbara, Alexandra (Ala), Marc and Jimmy, his wide circle of friends, relatives, and neighbours. The Requiem ceremony took place at St. Julien Parish, Auderghem, Brussels on April 27. Memorial Service of Choral Evensong on Thursday May 18 at 6pm in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Interment on Friday May 19 at 10am in Newlands Cross Cemetery, Dublin |
Date of Death: Thursday 20th April 2017
Last autumn, as part of our World War I commemoration evening, Noel returned to the College and gave a very entertaining talk on his illustrious uncle, Major Jack Coghlan, MC. The story also touched on how Noel arrived to SVC on the advice of another uncle, Donal, and how Major Jack had effectively adopted him after own son Peter died whilst still a student at Knock.
It was The Belle Époque as recounted in Noel's inimitable style, and none who heard him that evening could have imagined news of his passing would follow so soon.
Noel himself came to us from Swinford and spent five very happy years at Knock. He secured his NUI matriculation in fifth year, but stayed another year and then read Economics at the London School of Economics. A brief military career as Second Lieut. in the Royal Artillery followed, and on leaving the army, he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland and thence progressed to the World Bank before moving to the European Commission in 1973.
After retirement, Noel remained as busy as ever as a contributor to a variety of journals and active in the voluntary sector – he was a Director of the Debt and Development Coalition, a Patron of the Mayo Peace Park and a regular speaker and co-Director of the Humbert International Summer School.
A small part of Flanders also played a large part in his latter years as the good folk of Poelkappelle commemorated the glorious, if not quite victorious deeds of his uncle, Major Jack Coghlan, MC.
Our Poelkapelle 'nephew' has gone to his eternal reward.
To his partner Yuriko, children and his wide circle of family and friends, we extend our heartfelt sympathies.
Requiescat in Pace