Tributes paid to County Roscommon school principal who retires after 35 years of service
Principal of Ballintleva NS, Mary O’Brien-Healy, who retired from after 35 years’ dedicated service to the teaching profession pictured here with her granddaughter, Éala Monaghan, receiving a guard of honour on her last day at Ballintleva NS. Pic. Gerard O’Loughlin
Glowing tributes have been paid to Mrs Mary O'Brien Healy, Bushypark, Mount Talbot, who retired recently from the post of principal of Ballintleva National School, Curraghboy after 35 years of service.
She was the recipient of a series of presentations on behalf of the Board of Management of the three teacher school, the Parents Association and her teaching colleagues.
Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara made the presentation on behalf of the Board of Management. Paying tribute to Mrs O'Brien Healy for her years of dedicated service, he stated that she was an excellent principal with great communication skills and care and concern for the uniqueness of each child entrusted into her professional care.
Deputy Principal, Jacinta Crehan made the presentation on behalf of her teaching colleagues. She said that Mrs O'Brien Healy had worked well with her teaching colleagues over the decades and had nurtured a co-operative team spirit in the school.
Making the presentation on behalf of the parents, Raymond Gately, thanked her for her years of service in the school and her co-operation with the Parents Association over the years.
Returning thanks to her teaching colleagues, the parents and pupils, Mrs O'Brien Healy remarked that after 35 years of service as principal the time had come for her to bid farewell to one and all. There had been many changes in the life of the school over the past 35 years and the 180 years since the school first opened its doors to welcome its first pupils.
A significant milestone was reached in 2010 when, under the chairperson of the Board of Management, they secured the modern educational facilities which they now enjoy and she was proud to have been part of the that building project which brought Ballintleva National School into the 21st century.
She was also delighted to have been part of the team which secured the Clar grant of €50,000 towards the provision of the astro-turf facility.
Thanking the late Canon McElhone for his help in the past, she also thanked Fr Beirne for his tremendous commitment to his role as chairperson of the Board of Management and chaplain of the school. She also stated that they valued the active Parents Association for the manner in which they had engaged with the staff and had made a significant contribution to the school.
