Kerry principal reflects on 40 year career – ‘I loved teaching, I loved the children and the fun'
In fact, it appears the school has more than its fair share of talent particularly on the music field as almost every student plays a musical instrument – a feat that Laoise is rightly proud of.
Over the years she says there has been plenty of stand-out moments but those that mean the most to her include the official recognition of the school as a Gaelscoil. This was hugely important as part of the revitalization of the Irish language in South Kerry and ensuring that the next generations have a proud love of their native language.
Another proud moment for the school was when the pupils built and launched two traditional, life-size currachs, 'Báidín na Óg' and 'An Báidín Greanta' under expert guidance of currach maker Holger Lonze.
The currachs were launched by local poet Paddy Bushe from Reen Pier, in what was a memorable day for the whole community.
"It was an amazing project,' said Laoise and it was a project that won the school an Ocean Heroes award and was also the subject of a Radio Kerry documentary.
And the final big moment for Laoise came at the end of the school year when the entire community including the wonderful staff of the three teacher 48 pupil school came together to celebrate her retirement.
It was also a day of celebration for the vice-principal Síle Ní Chonaill who also had a long career over 25 years at the school and both her and Laoise worked side by side during that time to ensure the school ran smoothly.
Laoise says there has been a lot of changes in teaching over the past 40 years, many gradual so you don't even notice them.
"When I look back on the 40 years teaching is now unrecognisable especially with technology,' she says.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, she says despite such technological advances paperwork has increased no end and and she believes this is off-putting to the new generations particularly for such posts like her one as a teaching principal.
'People just aren't applying for those posts anymore, they [Department of Education] expect a lot but we are poorly funded,' she says.
Thankfully Scoil Mhichíl Naofa in Ballinskelligs has no such problems replaced Laoise and Sheila with Cristíona Uí Loingsigh taking over as principal and Louise Moriarty as the vice-principal role and although they have big shoes to fill they will do so expertly.
Laoise is originally from Sneem and aside from two years subbing in Kerry and Cork her career has been dedicated to the South Kerry school. Teaching is in her blood she says as her mother taught in nearby Scoil Cillian Liath and her daughter Muireann has also followed in her footsteps.
Laoise says it is now time for the next chapter of her life which she is truly looking forward to and will she hopes involve plenty of travel not least the Camino in Spain this September.
"It is exciting to be moving on which I still have the health to do so... I am looking forward to the next chapter.'
Laoise has just celebrated her 60th birthday so she is hopeful of a long retirement ahead.
But of course she will miss the children.
"I will miss the kids and the fun we had. It is a privilege to have worked with the children, they are so upbeat.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Seafood Made Simple: Seaweed scones and herb butter make for sea-deep flavours
Seaweed, an often-forgotten food, has been eaten in Ireland for centuries. Approximately 40,000 tonnes of seaweed is harvested in Ireland every year. When we consider the term seafood, we typically think of fish and shellfish, but the waters that surround our island offer us much more with sea vegetables and seaweeds. This time of the year you'll find rock and marsh samphire, sea kale, sea spinach and smaller sea plants like purslane. There are hundreds of varieties of seaweeds native to Ireland, pepper dulse being my most favourite. Also known as sea truffle, with wonderful black garlic undertones, it's a smaller sized seaweed but deeply savoury. Anthony Irwin and Angela Healy are growing two fabulous varieties of Irish seaweed in the pristine waters off the Mullet Peninsula in North west county Mayo. At their ocean farm, Dulra, they are cultivating winged kelp and sugar kelp seaweeds. Rope-grown with locally sourced seeds, this form of aquaculture is regenerative creating safe nursery grounds for young fish and crustaceans, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as well as providing a nutritious food source. Seaweed is an important ingredient in my store cupboard, delivering deep umami and meaty flavours to so many dishes. It's a fantastic substitute for salt and makes a brilliant seasoning for spuds, vegetables and breads. For this weekend's recipe, I've used some sugar kelp seaweed to flavour a brown scone mix. You can, of course, use any dried seaweed you can get your hands on. Most varieties are available dried and powdered or flaked, which makes it an easy addition to any bake. Look for dilisk, nori and kelp. Not just for afternoon tea, a savoury scone is the perfect accompaniment to a summer salad, seafood soup, smoked fish or pâtés. There is nothing more satisfying than the waft of baked goods filling your kitchen. Seaweed scones with herb butter recipe by:Aishling Moore Not just for afternoon tea, a savoury scone is the perfect accompaniment to a summer salad, seafood soup, smoked fish or pâtés. There is nothing more satisfying than the waft of baked goods filling your kitchen. Servings 12 Preparation Time 30 mins Cooking Time 15 mins Total Time 45 mins Course Baking Ingredients For the scones: 300g plain flour 150g wholemeal flour 30g baking powder ½ tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp sea salt 2 tsp dried seaweed flakes (such as kelp, dillisk or nori) 85g unsalted butter, diced and chilled 2 large eggs 225ml milk Egg wash (1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp milk) Sea salt flakes For the herb butter: 250g unsalted butter at room temperature 50g soft herbs (such as dill, chervil, parsley, fennel fronds) Zest of half a lemon Sea salt flakes Place the unsalted butter in a large bowl and beat using a spatula. Roughly chop the herbs and add along with the lemon zest and sea salt. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve at room temperature. Method Preheat oven to 220°C/fan 220°C/gas mark 7. Sieve the flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, salt and seaweed and mix well to evenly disperse. Add the diced cubes of chilled butter and rub them in using clean and dry hands. Do this until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. In a separate bowl, add the eggs and milk and whisk to combine. Make a well in the centre of the bowl, containing the dry ingredients and butter. Add the egg and milk mixture. Mix to bring together, forming a soft dough. Making sure there are no pockets of flour. Dust your work surface with some plain flour. Place the scone dough on top and shape to form a round. It's important at this point not to knead the dough and handle it as little as possible. Using a rolling pin, flatten out the dough to about 2cm and stamp out the scones using a cutter of your choice, wasting as little as possible working from the outside of the dough. Place on a large baking sheet, brush with egg wash and finish with a sprinkling of sea salt and seaweed flakes. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. Serve warm with a generous helping of herb butter. Fish tales Chilled butter for the scone mixture is vital to achieve a tender-textured scone. I love using wholemeal flour in scones for a more complex flavour, but you could just use plain flour. It's important not to over work the dough and handle as little as possible to avoid developing the gluten in the flour. It's always great to freeze half a dozen or so of the uncooked scones, which can be baked from frozen. For best results making the herb butter, use a stand mixer with the butter at room temperature. You'll find a great selection of native Irish seaweeds in most health food stores.
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Call for Dublin street to be named after Capuchin Day Centre founder Brother Kevin Crowley
Br Kevin, who died on Wednesday at the age of 90, founded the Capuchin Day Centre on Bow Street in 1969, which provides over 1,000 hot meals and more than 1,000 food parcels to those living in homelessness and poverty each day. His funeral mass will take place in Dublin tomorrow morning at the Church of St Mary of the Angels at 11am. Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who founded the charity Tiglin, which provides supports to people experiencing homelessness and addiction, has said naming a street in honour of Br Kevin 'would be a fitting and permanent tribute to a man who gave so much to Dublin'. Mr McCarthy has written to the Lord Mayor of Dublin City Council requesting that the move be considered as a way to honour Br Kevin's contribution to Irish society. 'Br Kevin was a beacon of compassion, dignity, and service in our city,' he said. 'His legacy is etched into the lives of thousands of people he helped quietly, humbly, and without judgment. Naming a street after him would be a fitting and permanent tribute to a man who gave so much to Dublin.' Born in Kilcolman in Enniskeane, Co Cork in February of 1935, Br Kevin was baptised with the name William. He entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Co Kilkenny in April 1958. In October of that year, he was admitted to the Novitiate in Rochestown in Cork where he received the name Kevin. After spending time working in the Cooperative Clothing Guild in Dublin, he had offices on Bow Street reconstructed to build the Capuchin Day Centre. The organisation, which was visited by Pope Francis during his time in Ireland in 2018, has become a vital facility for supporting poor and homeless people in Dublin. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more President Michael D Higgins led tributes to Br Kevin earlier this week, praising his 'invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city' through the 'essential services' the centre provides. He described him as a 'warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need'. 'The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable, but have been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives," he said. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, said his work and the work of the staff and volunteers 'transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised in our city who availed of its services, from misery and despair to hope and love'. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Br Kevin as a 'good friend' and 'proud Cork man' who was 'a tireless and passionate advocate for justice, dedicating his life to helping those in need'. 'His compassion, devotion and non-judgmental approach to helping the marginalised was unwavering,' he said. Tánaiste Simon Harris said Br Kevin was 'one of life's true heroes' who dedicated his life to helping others.
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Funeral of elderly Cork couple found dead at their home hears they were ‘inseparable'
Michael (Noel) O'Sullivan and Anne (Née Ryng) were remembered as people who were deeply grounded in their religion and had a love of all things Irish. The Mass, which took place in the Sacred Heart Church in the village, situated just east of the city boundary, saw friends, family, and neighbours paying their respects to the well-respected couple, with mourners offering their condolences to the family ahead of the ceremony. The couple's coffins lay side by side on the altar, accompanied by a picture of the pair, who have been remembered fondly since their death on Monday. Offerings brought to the altar at the funeral Mass included a crucifix to represent the couple's 'deep Catholic faith', and a photograph of Glounthane village to represent their love of their home place. 'A History of Ireland' by Robert Key was also offered, as a symbol of the couple's love of Irish history, politics, and Gaelic. Ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final tomorrow between Cork and Dublin, the church heard that the couple loved Gaelic Games 'but there was only one game for them, and that was hurling,' as a Cork jersey was brought up. A radio was also presented as the Mass was told 'they loved nothing more than listening to matches, which prompted much debate and discussion.' A reading from the first letter of St John - which focuses on the need for love and God's love for his people - was read out, while hymns were also sung during the mass, which was well attended. 'Ann so often had a phrase she used to repeat, 'thank God we don't know what the future brings', said Fr Aidan Vaughan, 'but God knows, and God is good. 'She was so prepared for the will of God, whatever form it would take, because of her faith in almighty God. 'I notice there's no number on that jersey. I know that it meant so much to them, they were so invested in the traditions and games of Ireland. 'They were inseparable. They were united in life, and they were united in death.' The Mass also remembered the other deceased members of the O'Sullivan and Ryng families and heard about Ann's late brother Eolan, who spent his life as a Capuchin monk, before returning to Cork to be cared for by his sister before his death. 'Ann and Michael are still part of that communion of saints,' said Fr Vaughan, who concluded by saying: 'Thank God we don't know what's coming in the future, but God knows, and God loves us.' "To see two coffins laid out on the altar is a sight we don't see too often in this parish,' said Parish priest Fr Damien O'Mahony, with the former Bishop of Cork and Ross, John Buckley, also in attendance. 'On a personal note, I recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of my ordination. I was doing a tally of the cards, and I came across this card. You might recognise the writing,' said the priest to the congregation. "'Fr Damien, wishing you many more years of faithful service'. When I saw that, I got a lump in my throat, even reading it now. 'We've lost two people of faith, two people who have given so much to their families and the parish faith community as well. 'It was a sad call I got the other day. Sometimes when I get called, I don't know what's ahead of me, but they're together, and that's a nice image of them, together in life, and after life. Fr O'Mahony thanked the families of the deceased for their support and help since the death of the pair, before finishing by saying: 'most of all, we thank Michael and Anne, for being Michael and Anne,' to a standing ovation. Bishop Buckley concluded the Mass and offered his own memories of the couple. Foul play has been ruled out in relation to the deaths of the couple, whose bodies were found at the foot of their stairs at around 5pm on Monday by a relative. They were formally pronounced dead by a local GP. Michael and Anne O'Sullivan were laid to rest together at St Joseph's Cemetery in Little Island.
