Tipperary man Brendan Horan takes up new role as INTO President

Bunscoil Na Cathrach Principal Brendan Horan has taken up a new appointment as President of INTO.

Brendan’s educational journey began in Cahir where he attended primary school at Cahir Boys National School and where his father Sean was also School Principal. Secondary School was completed in St. Josephs College in Cahir too. Graduating from Mary Immaculate College in 1999 he followed in his father’s footsteps and was appointed Principal of Cahir Boys National School in 2005 on the retirement of Principal John Mackey.

READ NEXT: Ambitious Tipperary care campus given €6.5million funding boost

Brendan was among those whose wish it was to see both the aging Cahir Boys National School and Our Lady of Mercy Girls School amalgamate in a new purpose built school and worked alongside a great team with Ann Carroll, Principal of Our Lady Of Mercy Primary School, John Mackey and Pat O’Malley among them until finally the 2 schools were amalgamated in the new, state of the art Bunscoil Na Cathrach that was officially opened in 2022 by the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Brendan was Secretary of the Cahir branch of the National Teachers Organisation from 1993 - 1996 and took up that position again from 2000 - 2013. Brendan has long held an avid interest in all INTO various activities. He joined the National Executive Committee in 2013 and became Vice President last year.

As the new presidential appointment will require all of Brendan’s attention, his duties as Principal of Bunscoil Na Cathrach would be affected, so it is wonderful to see Vice Principal Mairead Gallagher take over as Principal for the term of Brendan’s office as she has held the Vice Principals position since 2016.

As the new appointment is a national role, Brendan will attend meetings all over the country. It will involve engagement in the personal, professional and representational matters with Primary school teachers nationwide.

On Monday morning of April 13, Brendan visited the school to officially hand over the reins to Principal Mairead Gallagher. Brendan visited the classes in the school to say goodbye and even let some of the smaller children try on his chains of office.

While onsite, Brendan also planted a fruit tree on the grounds and was accompanied by 2 children from every class in the school along with many of his teacher colleagues. There were refreshments served afterwards in the staff room where everyone gathered to chat to Brendan before he departed.

READ MORE: See the style as Tipperary community supports fashion show for a worthy cause

Brendan said “my priorities have always been the children in the school, trying to achieve smaller class sizes and ensure that each child has the opportunity to reach their potential. I am very happy to leave the school the capable and professional hands of Mairead Gallagher along with the fantastic, hardworking and committed staff of Bunscoil Na Cathrach”.
Colleagues & staff at Bunscoil Na Cathrach and all that know Brendan wish him the very best in his new role as President of the Irish National Teachers Organisation.

He is going on secondment to the INTO and when his term of office is up he will return to his post at Bunscoil Na Cathrach.