St Bartholomew’s school community received some extremely sad news yesterday. Mr Joe McDade, the artist who painted the beautiful icon of St Bartholomew which hangs in our entrance area, passed away over the weekend after suffering a stroke.

Joe was a longstanding member of the community art group which has met in St Bartholomew’s Primary every Wednesday for many years. Within a week of my arrival at St Bartholomew’s way back in August 2012, I asked Joe if he would consider painting an image of our patron saint for the school foyer. A mere week later, Joe turned up at the school with the beautiful icon we have grown to love over these past two years. Joe was justifiably filled with pride when the icon was blessed by Bishop Joseph Devine at a special Mass on 23rd October 2012.

Joe was an absolute gentleman and he will be sorely missed by our school community. We give thanks for the good life Joe lived, hold his family in our prayers at this sad time, and ask God to receive his soul.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.