Can anyone deny, who has but a passing acquaintance with the man, that he is indefatigable, awe-inspiring and inspirational, dynamic and with a driving force equal to ten strong men. He is unwavering in his principles, unflinching in his conviction of what he sees as truth, and with a clarity of focus on the task on hand that is the envy of many a good man.

'Pres', San Fernando has had the good fortune of having such a man in their company for fifteen years! His influence has been indelibly printed on the minds, hearts and bodies of all those who passed under him. He was a man whose scent was always on the trail of excellence and he demanded no less from his students. In the words of Mr. Dovetan Sullivan, former Mayor San Fernando: "he was a man obsessed with an insatiable hunger for gold, gold and more gold' Presentation's flag was never higher than in those memorable 60's when year after year, the Jerningham Gold Medal came south to a little known prestige school at the time. He became the nemesis of the long established prestige schools of the North, and they knew what it was to bite the dust, time and time again. This was indeed, the

'Golden Era of 'Pres'! What was this modern southern phenomenon that caused such chagrin, dismay and consternation? What manner of man was at the helm of a ship that was charting a course of such consistent and solid success. And oh! the bewilderment of the Press and media in coping with the bias that is still theirs in printing in as small letters as possible the successes of the South. But credit to the organisational ability of the man in marshalling his Staff to give of their extra best and to wonder at the same time what had overtaken them.

Having been entrusted with the task of Principalship in 1957, he had already established his stamp of excellence in the formation of a photographic society, the likes of which there has never been, and probably, never will be again. His talents were to flavour not only what was happening on the internal scene, but it was to be felt at a national competition - the Chancellor Flag Competition. This was the emblem of supremacy in scouting in the island. A national record was established in winning the flag three times in a row. This new record was broken by winning it a fourth time in succession.

In the classroom, those under his tutelage, were convinced that he had come from a lineage of tough and famous Irish boxers. Unlike the modern psychologists and educationalists, who frown at corporal punishment, the man continues to be appreciated and admired by all when his punches to the ribs produced such excellent academic results. His famous and unforgettable introduction to a class was: 'Clean page, huh fellas, and start writing all that you know'. At the end of it all, some fellas were told: 'Not good enough son', followed by that short right jab. But like all great men, he had a wonderful and infectious sense of humour. His laugh was a guffaw that was spontaneous and unaffected, and many who knew only his serious side, would join in with surprised laughter themselves. Needless to say, he was a man who took calculated risks, not only in his administration of the College, but also in the dense forests and trails of the snake infested areas of the Northern Range, but also on the high seas where in 1956, the perils of a storm encountered in the Gulf of Paria would have swamped many a more experienced sailor. And, like all good religious of the day who dared to be different and entrepreneurial, permissions were very often 'assumed', and very often obtained after the fact. It is to dauntless heroes such as these, that we modern religious can thank for the freedom within which we operate today.

It was inevitable that such a colossus be recognised by his own Congregation, and so in 1969 he was elected to the General Council of the Order, and became Principal of one of our most prestigious Colleges in Ireland -'Presentation College, Cork'. The College became even more distinguished in every field of involvement in association with this truly remarkable man. It was during his tenure as Principal there that he was inspired to direct his attention to the aged poor of the city, many of whom were suffering from real cold, hunger and loneliness. He galvanized into action the students of the College in physically improving the hovels where these abandoned, poor aged would spend their last years. And so project, 'S.H.A.R.E.' was launched, and the words of the daily newspaper - the Cork Examiner or Ireland:- "Ironically, while Br. Jerome is to receive the Freedom of Cork, he already boasts the Freedom of San Fernando awarded to him in recognition of his outstanding work in the West Indies."

However, the West Corkman is best known in Ireland for his founding on Leeside of SHARE,

the charity which has achieved so much in support of the elderly.

Initially launched within the Presentation College in 1970, SHARE caught the imagination of both youngsters and the general public.

It quickly grew to the stage where it now boasts the support of hundreds of schoolchildren who each year, undertake to raise critical finances to help the elderly homeless.

That commitment to helping the less well off was honoured in 1993 when SHARE was chosen to represent European youth at a major Brussels conference to mark the European Year of the Elderly"

In 1981, he was elected to the highest office in the congregation, that of Superior General. Re continued to unostentatiously involve himself in S.H.A.R.E., and in order shift all focus of attention from himself to the Brothers of his Congregation, he obtained their consent to convert the major part of our Mother House -Mt. St. Joseph - into model units for the poor. The location of Mt. St. Joseph was ideal in that it overlooked the entire city of Cork and its famous Lee River, with so many upstanding Church structures, University buildings and extensive parks and fields, not to mention that airport on the opposite side of the valley. We here, at 'Pres', San Fernando would like to wish Bro. Timothy Jerome Kelly many long years of fruitful endeavour, not only in continuing his work of SHARE in Europe as a whole, but in the many other areas in which he can continue to express his compassion for the poor and to share his wealth of experience in the educational field.

In an attempt to write a fitting tribute to this man, the attempt has been one of frustrating and exasperating futility to do justice in painting an adequate portrait of this 'man for all seasons'.