RIP: Former 'calm and measured' Leitrim teacher remembered by local community
Tributes have poured in for Joe McElhone, Grange, Hillstreet, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon who passed away on Wednesday 17th June
Tributes have poured in for Joe McElhone, Grange, Hillstreet, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon who passed away on Wednesday 17th June 2026, peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, in the excellent care of the staff of the Mater Hospital Dublin.
Predeceased by his brother Felix and his parents Shane and Vera.
Joe will be sadly missed by his heartbroken family, wife Pauline, children Denise (Brian), Shane (Fiona), Ruth (Westin), Grace (Alan) and Paul (Mary), adored grandchildren Heather, Aifric, Ryan, Oscar, Matthew, Holly, Ava, Keeva, Max, Willow, Lily, Beau, Tadgh, JP, Jude and Ruby.
He will be fondly remembered by his loving sister Miriam (Joe), and sisters-in-law Trudagh, Monica (Ger), Mary (Joseph), niece, nephews, cousins, extended family, and wide circle of neighbours and loyal friends.
Joe will repose in Brady’s Funeral Home Elphin (F45 Y168) on Thursday 18th June from 4pm until 8pm. (The family will take a break for 15 minutes at 6pm).
Funeral Mass on Friday 19th June at 11am, in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Aughrim (N41 PV29).
Burial immediately afterwards in Aughrim Cemetery.
Funeral Mass will be live streamed on Friday and may be viewed by clicking on the following link Joe's Funeral Mass
House private please.
Donations in lieu of flowers to the The Mater Hospital Foundation, Dublin c/o Dermot Foley Funeral Director.
Among the tributes on RIP.ie, one stated: “Joe was such a great mentor when I started teaching in Carrick-On-Shannon Community School. He gave excellent direction, support and advice. He was brilliant company and when Joe spoke at staff events he always had the audience in the palm of his hand. At the end of the night, we all enjoyed to listen to Joe sing. He had a wonderful voice.”
Another former colleague said: “As both my teacher and work colleague I had such admiration for Joe. He was such a measured and calm person who took everything in his stride with an added little witty comment thrown in for good measure with his smirk and sideways glance…. May he look over, navigate and protect you as he guides through your grief. “
One tribute stated: “ He taught me in the Vocational School in Carrick in the 1970's and was a great teacher and a very nice, kind man. Later he was a family liasion officer for the school and he was ideally suited for that job with his calm personality and understanding.”
One former student said: “He was an amazing teacher who many students admired and nearly 30 years later, I remember all about the themes of “Hard Times” and the poems of Kavanagh that he thought me for the LC curriculum of 1999! “
Another former student said: “I have very fond memories of a brilliant teacher in 90's Carrick on Shannon. His inspiring teaching and manner earned the respect off all his students, colleagues and wider community. The students of South Leitrim and North Roscommon were lucky to have Joe and many of his hardworking colleagues at the helm for their education at second level. “