The best days of our lives

When Siobhán Cronin was asked to contribute to a book on inspirational teachers, she had no hesitation in picking Mr John Walsh

‘MR Walsh said Goodbye.’ Four little words in my homework diary, dated Wednesday, Oct 9, 1985, that announced one of the most significant events in my teenage years.

Mr Walsh — today my friend John Walsh — was my science teacher at Sacred Heart in Turner’s Cross in Cork, but he was much more than that. He was the man who taught me that the world is not a fair or just place, but any one of us can fight to change that.