RIP: Kilkenny man with 'outstanding traits' remembered fondly

Jim Cooke, a native of Narabane, Kilmacow was born in June 1942 the fifth of a family of seven children.

From an early age he excelled in Kilmacow primary school from which he won a Kilkenny County Council scholarship which facilitated his entry into Good Counsel College as a boarder. His elder brother John also won the scholarship and attended the same college.

Jim did very well in college and a stand out memory was his continuous high marks in Greek, Latin and Maths. He won a Leinster junior hurling colleges championship medal in 1958, following his brother John who, while boarding in the college, was eligible to play minor hurling for Wexford.

Following his Leaving Certificate he joined St Kieran’s College Seminary and completed four years of study. While in both colleges he was a notable table tennis player, winning many competitions. Some of the finals in St Kieran’s were played against fellow student Brian Flynn later to become a much loved parish priest in Kilmacow. Jim was very fast, light on his feet and handy with sliotar and table tennis ball.

After leaving St Kieran’s he joined the Irish Times. While there he completed a BA degree in UCD followed by a H Dip in Education in Trinity College. Years later he completed a Masters in Literature (M Litt) in Trinity College. In 1968 he joined Ringsend Technical Institute and taught English until he retired in 2001. He was very interested and involved in the promotion of adult education.

In 1972 he married Nuala Farren. The couple set up home in Marley Grange, Rathfarnham and had four children - Sophie, Alison, Aoife and Aengus. Tragedy struck when Nuala passed away from cancer at the age of 44 in 1992. With help from Nuala’s family, especially her sisters Ria and Grainne, Jim cared for the children who did very well in their careers.

Jim’s outstanding traits of humility, social justice, resilience and a ready willingness to help out whenever needed stood to him as a lone parent.

Jim was a prolific writer as academic and historian. Jim in total researched and published over 20 books and an extensive list of articles, book chapters and reports on historical, educational, cultural topics of national and international interest. His most recent book was completed in 2023. His writing earned him many distinctions and compliments, including one from Seamus Heaney. He was also interested in genealogy and he researched the family tree from 1855.

Both Nuala and Jim were politically aware and active members of the Labour Party and helped to ensure Eithne Fitzgerald TD was successful in several general elections. In the 1970s Brendan Corish, Michael D Higgins, Conor Cruise O’Brien, Jim Tully, Justin Keating and others were promoting a socialist vision for the country.

Throughout his life he always maintained an interest in Kilkenny hurling and all the news from Kilmacow. Jim worked hard throughout his life as student, parent, teacher, researcher and writer. He continued throughout his retirement years until a few months before he passed away.

Jim fought the good fight, ran the race to the end and, in so many different ways, kept the faith.

May he Rest in Peace.

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