West Tipperary village honours dedicated former school principal on her retirement

SCHOOL PRESENTATION

On Saturday, March 5, a large number of parents and former pupils attended a presentation ceremony in Cullen National School to mark the retirement of former principal teacher, Margaret McCarthy. The event was organized by the Board of Management and the Parents Association.

Margaret first took up employment in Cullen in September 1999, when she successfully applied for the newly-created post of remedial teacher at the school. Prior to this appointment, she had taught at Raheen, a rural school in county Wexford.

She described it as a difficult decision to leave Raheen, but the attraction of working closer to her native Listowel, was probably the deciding factor in her move to Cullen. Then, in August 2008, when Dan Finnan retired as principal of the school, Margaret succeeded him in that position.

During her 21 years in Cullen, Margaret was very highly regarded by her pupils and their parents. In the classroom, she always emphasized the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. But she also taught her pupils to be kind, compassionate, and understanding.

Both Gerard Riordan, Chairman of the Board of Management and Siobhán Bradshaw, Chairperson of the Parents Association, thanked Margaret for her many years of dedicated service to the school and for her contribution to primary education in the local community. She was presented with a number of gifts and was wished a long, happy and healthy retirement.

Margaret thanked everyone associated with the school for their kindness to her and she looked forward to visiting Cullen again in the near future.