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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Phoebe Prince had sweet life in Ireland before U.S. nightmare

Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2010 at 07:09 PM

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News / Bully writes ‘accomplished’ on Phoebe Prince’s Facebook page on day of death / Click here

Shannon, Ireland — A few miles from here, Phoebe Prince and her family left for America in 2009. Now her remains lie buried not far from where she grew up. The circle of life and death has rarely seemed so cruel.

No doubt the family was apprehensive as well as hopeful the day they left, looking forward and looking back to what was left behind and what the future would bring.

Jeremy and Anne O'Brien Prince had settled in the little West Clare town of Fanore (photo above) 11 years previously from England. He had worked a blueberry and fruit farm and sold produce to the locals.

People here say many such idealistic outsiders have moved into West Clare over the years, the bucolic setting and smal- town values make it a perfect place to raise a family.

He is remembered as a real green-fingers phenomenon, a man who made a living in good times and tough times. Anne became a schoolteacher locally and her kids. Her four girls and a boy were well-liked, well-mannered kids.

Phoebe went to school in the exclusive Villiers college in nearby Limerick. She is remembered there as a warm, outgoing girl popular in a coed boarding school environment where fast friends were made for life.

Villiers has a Protestant ethos and is fee-paying. The student body is multi-denominational and diverse, including students from Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Germany and Russia.

It is a nursery for many distinguished former pupils including politician Jan O'Sullivan. It has a unique reputation as a nurturing environment. Phoebe thrived there.

Fanore is a little seaside village, a town on a road to somewhere else, usually nearby Lisdoonvarna, a huge tourist town, or Doolin, where Irish traditional music was reborn about three decades ago.

One can only imagine what the change to America and the much-faster pace meant to Phoebe when the family resettled in Massachusetts. It must have been a very difficult time. Her father stayed behind in Clare. Her mother, whose family hails from the South Hadley area, had wanted to reconnect with family there.

Phoebe the country schoolgirl would have found it difficult to relocate no matter what. Unknown to her parents though, she was entering a school where bullying was tolerated and school administrators did not want to be bothered.

It was all a huge contrast from Villiers, where supportive teachers had a mission to nurture their pupils, and one-on-one attention assured that no one was left out.

In such an idyllic rural upbringing and a nurturing school environment, Phoebe Prince seemed to thrive and put down solid roots in the community in Ireland. Like many emigrant families, starting over in America was a massive undertaking.

it all went horribly wrong for Phoebe, of course. Locals back in West Clare were deeply traumatized by what had occured. In Shannon and Fanore yesterday, the daffodils have at last bloomed after the harsh winter and delayed spring.

Perhaps they grow on Phoebe's grave, too.

But she will never be around to witness their beauty again.

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cuddlybuddly | May 08, 2011, 04:46 AM EDT

Rest in Peace Phoebe

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krissangel | Feb 10, 2011, 08:15 AM EST

While I agree in premise, I do not agree that it was "America" that led to Pheobe's death. It was a small-town, blind-eyed school administration and the bullies and their parents who allowed/caused this tragedy to occur. If life was so idyllic in Ireland, why leave? Splitting the family up (father stayed behind) to reconnect with family makes little sense to me. Moving while a child is still in school (and happy there) is always a bad idea if it can be avoided (I know - my parents did the same thing, moving from one state to another led to culture shock for me, too). But don't blame a whole country for a few bad apples!

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Lvanboven | Sep 29, 2010, 03:05 AM EDT

What I think about this??????? I say no to bullying. isn't our system who break down???? Each of the staff and also the infant who is guilty should be removed in that school, let them be running under the whip, like in the old days, back in the time of Prussian, only at that point they will understand what hurting means. I also was a teacher, I NEVER ACCEPTED BULLYING AND DO NOT ACCEPT IT TODAY AN WILL NOT DO FOR SO LONG AS I LIVE; thus I pass it on to my infants. When there is some problems into school I visit the director and staff I let them know what I think of this irritations. I do not want that my infants are bullied, I also visit during school time the teacher and the student who does bullying and I let them know that I do not accept such attitude. Even if I have to go to his parents. At least I keep an eye on my children like many of us. Now i'm a contractor, but still stands up for those who need help among us, everybody has the right to study and live his own live, but we also have in live some rules to follow , that let's us be social beings, someone said that there is a difference between human and beast, but as far I can see, is that somehow not for a fact in that school and with those students who did this. Let me smile, do you have to be a football player to have some young lady? Isn't there another way to have a relationship, instead of abusing the believe of a young girl who wants’ to be accepted? The status of that is wrong, I also did sport, but never needed some publicity, and i do not want that either. That abuse of status cost a live of a young promising infant. Shame on those who let that happen. I hope that her parents and family may find a way into the future, because THEY are staying with a loss that never can be replaced!!!!!!! Greetings from Belgium

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irishlass0115 | Apr 09, 2010, 10:07 PM EDT

I live close to South Hadley..where Phoebe attended school. Please know that her death will not be in vain. We will seek justice and those responsible will not walk away. Nor will the school officials who were supposed to keep her safe. Just be patient...and let justice take care of those "people". We feel her loss here in Massachusetts and know that she is now in a much better place and free from the pain she had to endure.

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krisdaly | Apr 04, 2010, 03:13 AM EDT

Phoebe loved her enemies and they killed her for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Monsoonman | Apr 03, 2010, 03:22 PM EDT

Of course, if it was such a "sweet, idyllic, bucolic" life back in the mother country, why move away? I have met many Irish here in the USA, hugely successful in the business world, who moved away from Eire...But moved here legally.

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Monsoonman | Apr 03, 2010, 01:26 PM EDT

A working class hero is something to be. / They hurt you at home and they hit you at school, / They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool, ...Welcome to obamas socialist America!

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Mayolady | Apr 02, 2010, 08:08 PM EDT

There are laws against bullying, aren't there? They should be enforced. I was a junior high teacher and would not tolerate bullying----even before laws. Had the teachers no compassion either. . . to stay aloof and not get involved? They should be fired or better yet, proscuted!

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kevinosullivan | Apr 02, 2010, 04:13 PM EDT

What a sad story. Phoebe entered an unknown High School world where the girls wait in line to date the football team, never mind the captain. Phoebe bypassed them all and was taken in by the captain. One can imagine the jealousy that existed and we now know everything else that went on. Couple of months later it was over, why we don't know. Now he is charged with rape. May she rest in peace.

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ciarrai | Apr 02, 2010, 02:20 PM EDT

"She was entering a school where bullying was tolerated..." That says it all, doesn't it? Imagine leaving West Clare for the den of iniquity? RIP on this Good Friday. She is in a better place. Anywhere is better than where the crazies are allowed to run the asylum. You know, like South Hadley High.

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windrider48 | Apr 02, 2010, 01:37 PM EDT

Niall, so often i disagree with your entries and on occasion I do. This was a beautiful piece and captures one's heart. Thank you.

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cerridwen | Apr 02, 2010, 11:34 AM EDT

My advice,: get out of the cities and go back to the small towns where you know what is going on with your kids and your community. Get involved.Make the teachers and administrators accountable

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EricSimmons | Apr 02, 2010, 11:13 AM EDT

TopWorldWebsite.com: PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM CYBER-BULLYING! ACTIONS FOR PARENTS TO TAKE: http://www.topworldwebsite.com/blog/twweditorsblog/3599

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killowen | Apr 02, 2010, 11:03 AM EDT

daffodills - But she will never be around to witness their beauty again. Thanks to uncaring scum that we collectively rely on and tolerate.

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briantcostello | Apr 02, 2010, 10:50 AM EDT

So sad and tragic. It is unfathomable that teens can be that cruel and have no sense of right and wrong.

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