At the end of February we celebrated Mrs O Neill’s retirement from teaching, a career that spanned 46 years. The day was marked by a prayer service and a mini concert in St. Ita`s Church. See the beautiful pictures of the event courtesy of Matt Broker here.
Mrs. Beecher gave the following speech:
As a newly qualified teacher Anna O Leary was appointed to a permanent teaching position in Clonpriest National school in 1975.
In her initial years she taught infants and first class and later went on to teach all class levels including Learning Support.
Mrs O Neill is the longest serving teacher, to date, in our school, having given 46 years of unbroken service here.
Conditions, in the school building, in 1975 were in sharp contrast to what we enjoy today. There were three overcrowded classrooms in the structure which was built in 1902. The school was damp and cold, with two front doors leading directly from the classrooms to the school playground. By today’s standards the building wasn’t fit for purpose.
There was no technology, no photocopier, no telephone, no central heating, no staffroom and only outdoor toilets. Running water hadn’t been installed in the building until early 1975.
Anna, and her colleagues at the time, endured those conditions until the early 1990s when grants were finally sanctioned by the Department of Education for an extension and refurbishment of Clonpriest National school.
Staff and students relocated to Presentation Primary school in Youghal for 18 months while improvements were undertaken and in 1992 they returned to a much enhanced building.
A keen athlete in her youth, Anna was instrumental in promoting athletics in Clonpriest. She entered the school into the annual Cork Primary school Sports and took on responsibility for training participants, giving up her lunch break week after week in the lead up to the competition. Under her stewardship numerous trophies and medals made their way to the school.
The Irish Primary school and in particular rural schools are an integral part of the local community. To this end Anna embraced community life in Gortroe by becoming involved in a number of local organisations including Macra na Feirme, Gortroe Tops of the Towns and the Gortroe Mile. Throughout her teaching career and principalship she has been a proud supporter of the GAA and in particular our local club, St Ita’s.
Anna’s commitment to extra curricular was not confined to athletics. She prepared many school concert items with all of her classes, spent long days on the annual school tour and was actively involved in promoting the school’s participation in Sciath na scol.
Anna was appointed Deputy Principal in 1999 following Mrs Catherine Dineen’s retirement. Anna continued in this role until her promotion to Principal in 2004 following Mr Motherway’s retirement.
The next 17 years were very busy for Anna. She was actively involved in two buildings projects- a major extension in 2008 and a further extension in 2018.
Staff numbers have grown significantly during Anna’s tenure- from 4 class teachers to 6 , from 2 SNAs to 4 and from 2 Special Education Teachers to 3 , including a base post for shared learning support hours. As the school enrolment grew and extra staff were employed Anna had to undertake additional administration which she did with confidence and prowess.
For Anna the Catholic ethos of the school was very important and something that she strove to uphold. The Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation were big occasions for the school and Anna always supported staff in their effort to make the ceremonies memorable for the children.
Anna always ensured that important events in the church calendar were marked appropriately in the school.
We have always enjoyed a strong sense of collegiality in our school and over the years we have marked birthdays ending in 0, shared treats to brighten a dull week, had great staff nights out before Covid struck, and often had a cuppa in the staffroom with visitors to the school. We are particularly delighted today to see former staff members in our midst- Mrs Catherine Dineen, Finbarr Motherway, Eileen Kennedy, Linda Berry and Aine Ryan. We remember fondly our dearly departed colleague Mrs Mary O Dwyer who passed away in 2012.
One of the four domains of the newly defined role of principal in Irish Primary schools is Developing Leadership Capacity. Anna has always encouraged her staff to use their talents in areas such as music and sports, and to take leadership on initiatives which have all benefitted the children in our school.
Anna, as you begin the next chapter of your life this is our wish for you-
Go n-ardódh na sráideanna chun bualadh leat,
Go mbeadh an ghaoth i gcónaí ar do dhroim,
Go lasfadh an ghrian te ar d’aghaidh,
Go dtitfeadh an bháisteach go réidh ar na páirceanna
Agus go dtí go mbuailfimid le chéile arís, Go gcoinneoidh Dia tú ina láimh
May you have many years of health and happiness in your retirement. May the years ahead be filled with contentment, new experiences and countless blessings.