A host of Laois teachers were honoured at a function recently following their recent retirements.
A total of seven teachers were honoured by the Portlaoise Branch of the Irish National Teachers Organisation at their retirement function in the Killeshin Hotel.
Uactaráin Joe McKeown who made the presentations on behalf of the INTO to educators who recently retired from five Laois schools.
Two of the seven teachers who were recognised came from Scoil Mhuire Abbeyleix – Francis Duggan and Ann Oxley.
Maurette Maher, who retired as principal of Derrylamgue NS in Rosenallis in October 2020, was also present.
Maurette, who is originally from the Pike of Rushall, taught in Ratheniska NS first after graduating from St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra.
After a decade there, she got a teaching position in Derrylamogue NS in 1993 and subsequently became principal taking over from Mrs Tina Lalor in 1994.
It was a role that Maurette would carry out with serious esteem for 26 years.
Martina Mulhall, formerly of Timahoe NS, was also recognised for her 34 year teaching career.
Stradbally Martina began teaching at Scoil Mhuire Fatima in 1985 and had a massive impact on the lives of many children in the community – bringing it to an end in 2019.
Two of the primary teachers at the ceremony finished their teaching careers in Holy Family in Portlaoise – Meree O’Sullivan and Des Sutton.
Former principal Des had a stellar 40 year career in education – from teaching in Dublin to finding himself the principal in a small two-teacher school in Ballyroan, before moving to St Paul’s in Portlaoise and Holy Family NS – where he ended in 2019.
Originally from Donegal, Meree, who lives in Timahoe, came to Laois at the age of 11 and began teaching in the county when she qualified.
Initially in CBS Portlaoise which later became St Paul’s which then amalgamated with Scoil Bhride to become Holy Family – where she finished as Deputy Principal in 2020.
While the last of the seven who were honoured at the function was Marie Thompson – formerly of Scoil Bhríde in Portlaoise.
Also present at the function were Sinead Mulhall, Portlaoise Branch Secretary, Niamh Campion, Branch Chairperson, and Deirdre Fleming, Central Executive Committee of the INTO.
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