Teachers retire from Lorrha National School
One year on from the retirement in Lorrha NS of the Principal Olive O’Meara, two more staff members have bid farewell to the classroom in that school.
Pauline McIntyre, Special Education teacher, and Martina Duggan, Special Needs Assistant, were joined by members of their families, pupils past and present, Board of Management and Parents Association members, parents and people from the community on Monday, June 16, for the retirement Mass which also doubled up as the end of year ceremony, and was celebrated by Fr Tom O’Halloran.
All of the children in the school participated in some way or another, with Darren Bourke leading the choir, which enhanced the lovely occasion.
School Principal John Skehan presented Sixth Class with their end of year school reports, before the limelight turned to the two staff members, of which many speakers spoke highly and lovingly about and how they would be missed from school life.
Pauline commenced her teaching career in 1984 in her home parish of Kinnitty. In 1985, she went on the diocesan panel and got a job in Borrisokane NS, a position she held until 2001. Later that year, a position came up in Lorrha and Pauline was successful in her application, working alongside Olive O’Meara and Eileen Mannion.
The school was allocated a base post for learning support along with Rathcabbin NS in 2006 and so Pauline has worked as the SET teacher since then with the school clusters varying over the years.
THANKS
Pauline, in thanking everyone, said it was a pleasure and a great privilege for her working with the children and staff of Rathcabbin, Redwood and Lorrha schools through the years. She went on to mention various staff, BOM and parents associations that helped and supported her over the years, and as she said “the most important people in the school, the pupils, past and present”. She also thanked her family and her extended family, some who were present on the day.
Pauline finished by saying, “we should never think that we have no influence, as a kind word or a good deed left behind can never be erased.” This, she said, is actually part of the school motto: always treat others as you would like them to treat you.
A very shy SNA Martina Duggan had her husband Oliver speak on her behalf. He, too, thanked everyone who worked with Martina over the 22 years she spent in Lorrha NS, including former teachers Eileen Mannion, Caroline O’Donoghue and Patrice Murray, the many substitute teachers, dance teachers, elocution and language teachers. Born and raised in Looscaun, Woodford, where she attended school and secondary in Woodford, Martina first worked in the Civil Service before training as a SNA.
Oliver said that Martina’s time spent in Lorrha NS “has always been a pleasant experience”. This was due in no small way to the leadership of Mrs Olive O’Meara, school Principal for the majority of those years, her successor Mr Skehan and deputy Aoife McLoughney. “Their support, professionalism and dedication made Martina’s job easier than it might have been in different circumstances,” he said. In conclusion, Oliver thanked everyone who prepared the event for the two ladies.