Múinteoir Úna bows out from Nenagh Gaelscoil

There was much sadness as the Easter break approached in the Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan due to the retirement of one of the teaching staff, Múinteoir Úna.

In 1996, she joined the staff of Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan having spent 11 years in her native Ballinaclough beforehand. She began teaching Rang 1, in St John’s Lane but taught most classes from Infants to Sixth proving herself to be a most competent and versatile professional. She delighted in producing the annual Dráma na Nollag, putting the naíonáin mhóra through their paces on stage in the halla mór, helping to create the next generation of young thespians. Indeed, she was very proud of all the children she taught, but of course Daryl McCormack given that he went on to become a famous actor in his own right.

fount of knowledge

Úna had a keen interest in SPHE and trained with CAPP and was a fount of knowledge on all matters relating to Child Protection, RSE, wellbeing and health. Rainbows group, which she was involved in, was a source of refuge for many children who had experienced trauma, upset or loss and again this was thanks to Úna that it came to be. She was a proud proponent of Jenny Mosely’s ‘Circletime’ and all the children in her care were very familiar with her beautiful collection of puppets which she used to encourage free-flowing conversations. As the school focussed in on wellbeing in recent times, she was to the fore in organising the pupils’ committee in promoting all aspects of the Amber Flag.

LOVE OF LITERACY

Úna always strove to instil a love of literacy in her pupils whether trí Ghaeilge or in English and worked late into the evening preparing materials and books for Literacy Lift Off. She had a keen love of music and culture and passed this onto her pupils too. Féile an Aonaigh, the competition for the promotion of Irish organised by Conradh na Gaeilge was an annual outing for Úna’s class and all were well prepared for the poetry and story recitation and group singing competitions. Prior to teaching in the Gaelscoil, Úna’s class in Ballinaclough succeeded in reaching and winning the national finals of the School Drama Competition in Dublin, indicating her deep love of the language throughout her teaching career.

She also partook in the drafting of school textbooks in Irish under the auspices of Tiobraid Árann ag Labhairt. This love of the language stemmed from her formative years when her late father Master Collins, who taught in Templederry NS, engendered in her the love of the Irish language. She fully believed in the seanfhocal: ‘Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam’ (A country without its language is a country without its soul).

Environmental care was another keen interest of Múinteoir Úna and she organised litter collections, recycling and many other initiatives in a bid to inspire future generations to preserve the planet. However, Úna moreover took great pride in the school itself and its environs and often worked at weekends on upkeep and maintenance projects which were far above and beyond her duties.

A TRUE LEADER

Úna was a true leader and a hard worker who set high expectations for all. Fire drills were always conducted at ease due to the background preparation done by Úna and all felt safe in school due to the knowledge that First Aid was prioritised by Úna. She ensured that all pupils personal medical data was updated as required and oversaw the annual training of teachers in First Aid training.

She had an avid love of all aspects of education and gave freely of her time on the Gaelscoil Board of Management aiding in the formulation of policies and attending to all matters school based. She was an active member of the local INTO, campaigning tirelessly for improvements for schools and teachers. Úna’s own deep-rooted faith was ever evident in her approach to her work and indeed she never missed attending any of the schools’ sacraments over the years.

While much has changed since Úna left Carysfort College, Blackrock, Dublin in 1985, she has shown herself to be a willing teacher and learner in the educational process. She has moved from the early practices of ‘chalk and talk’ to the interactive whiteboard and from the stenter machine to the modern photocopier and from spool-counting to numicon. Throughout her time in the Gaelscoil she has remained steadfast to upholding the dignity and value of each child in her care. This relationship with her pupils has outshone any perceived curricular challenges she encountered as she taught and made her truly a memorable teacher for many generations of Gaelscoil pupils. It was evident that she won the hearts of the pupils of Nenagh by the large numbers in attendance at the Mass of Thanksgiving in her honour on March 30 and again by the number of parents that came to bid her farewell in the Guard of Honour afforded her on her last day.

At the Mass the vice-principal, Múinteoir Lúsaí Ní Mheára, thanked her for all of her love, care and dedication to her profession and to all of the pupils she taught.

She wished her well on her retirement, hoping that she enjoyed good health and many hours to pursue her pastimes and to continue to engage with Nenagh Choral Society and the Ormond Octaves. She acknowledged all the time she had given to talk to pupils, parents, and staff and in particular mentoring young teachers over the years and now she wished her lots of time to speak to her own family and friends.

Fr Pat spoke at the Farewell Mass of people’s view of her as someone with kind and gentle qualities with an immeasurable influence who sowed the seeds of faith and kindness in the hearts, souls and minds of countless pupils. Úna in her farewell address thanked Muintir na Gaelscoile, that is all who were involved in Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan for a terrific adventure and a worthwhile career. She quoted Hans Christian Andersen who said: “There is no greater joy than witnessing a child’s success.” Gan dabht nach raibh an t-ádh dearg ag páistí na Gaelscoile a leithéid de mhúinteoir a bheith acu! (No doubt the Gaelscoil children were lucky to have had such a lovely teacher!) Gura fada buan thú, a Úna.