Madam, - I was delighted to see the report of the award to Sister Cyril Mooney of the Padma Shree, India's highest civilian honour, on last Saturday's front page. I know Sr Cyril from travelling each year since 2002 with transition-year students from John Scottus School in Dublin. We travel to Kolkata to help in her wide-ranging efforts to bring the gift of education to all Indian children.
You mention that she was a neighbour of Mother Teresa; both are from the Loreto Order of nuns, and they worked together on the same street. Mother Teresa has a deserved reputation for holiness. I never met her but I can personally attest to the great strength, commitment and intelligence of Sr Cyril. The dedication of this Wicklow woman to the cause of education is total. In my book she is a modern-day saint. - Yours, etc,
JOHN ALEXANDER, Transition Year Co-Ordinator, John Scottus School, Morehampton Road, Dublin 4.