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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
'You have to smile': Lollipop person of the year says he enjoys the craic with all his little charges
'My two knees are knocking, I'm just blown away by it all,' Lollipop person of the year and Corkman Ger Gleeson said after his win. The retired firefighter is now hoping for a 'double win for Cork' with the hurling final in the coming weeks, he said with a grin. Mr Gleeson has worked as a much-loved lollipop man at Bunscoil Mhuire in Youghal, Co Cork, since 2015. His wife died after a long illness almost 11 years ago and the job 'did help me cope' with her tragic loss. Lollipop man Ger Gleeson celebrates with children at Bunscoil Mhuire, Youghal, Co Cork, after he was named the Tonstix Lollipop Person of the Year 2025. Picture: Dan Linehan 'Work keeps the mind going, keeps the body going, and keeps everything going,' he said. 'We married when we were 19 years old. We were together ever since, we were together in the heydays. But she got sick at 43 and died when she was only 56, so she was a very young woman.' Previously, Mr Gleeson served his local community as a firefighter in Youghal for almost 30 years. 'I had been retired from the local fire service for 12 months when I saw an advert for the lollipop job," he said. Senior infant Luke Cliff with Lollipop man Ger Gleeson at Bunscoil Mhuire, Youghal, Co Cork. Ger says of Luke: 'He has own little lollipop stick with a 'stop' sign on it that his mum and dad made for him. And he has his own lollipop jacket that's similar to mine.' Picture: Dan Linehan With 'a small few fumes still left in the tank' post-retirement he decided to apply. 'Luckily I got it,' Mr Gleeson said. 'I'm there since. 'I have five grandchildren myself and I love them with all my heart. So I get on with kids. You get to know all the children, all the parents, grandparents over the years. I've made so many good friends. "It's like a men's shed sometimes. You meet so many people down there.' Mr Gleeson was announced the winner in the Tonstix Lollipop person of the year competition at a special ceremony at the school on Monday. Bunscoil Mhuire principal Eoghan O'Neill playing the drums after lollipop man Ger Gleeson was named the Tonstix Lollipop Person of the Year in Youghal, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan He received a trophy, a plaque and a €1,000 travel voucher. 'Hail, rain or shine,' he's out there to help the children safely cross the road in the east Cork town every school morning and has developed particular bonds with some of the children in the schools autism classes. Tonstix Lollipop Person of the Year 2025 Ger Gleeson helping children from Bunscoil Mhuire, Youghal, Co Cork cross the road safely. Picture: Dan Linehan 'You need to be sociable,' he said. 'You can't go to work with a sour face. You have to smile. The kids are going to school every morning and you don't want to ever see a child upset going into school." All the children know his name and call him Ger. But one 'very special little fella' called Luke who has become a major fan of Mr Geeson's calls him 'granddad'. 'He has own little lollipop stick with a 'stop' sign on it that his mum and dad made for him. And he has his own lollipop jacket that's similar to mine. Sinéad Crowther of Tonstix with Ger Gleeson at Bunscoil Mhuire, Youghal, Co Cork where he was named Lollipop Person of the Year 2025. Picture: Dan Linehan 'He has to watch me every morning and evening." 'He's just adorable. 'There are a lot of really special kids there.' Retirement can be lonely for many people and Mr Gleeson said that a job like this can really keep people connected and engaged in their community. 'It gets you out of the house every morning, keeps you going," he said. You can get into an awful rut if you retire and you have no hobbies. 'I cycle at the weekends and school holidays, the greenway in Waterford is fantastic. 'I'm living close to my grandchildren, they all come down to me nearly every day so I'm lucky.' Read More Retired fireman in the running to be named Ireland's best lollipop person
Irish Examiner
13-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Retired fireman in the running to be named Ireland's best lollipop person
A retired fireman who guides children safely across a busy road to school in East Cork is in the running to be named Ireland's best lollipop person. Ger Gleeson, who has been standing outside Bunscoil Mhuire in Youghal, Co Cork, every school day for the last eight years helping kids to cross the road safely, was described 'as a hero' by those who voted for him as Munster winner in the Tonstix Lollipop person of the year competition. 'Ger cares so much about the safety of all of the children and is trusted by the parents at a very busy crossing,' one parent said. In particular, Ger has a very special bond with the children who are in the school's autism unit who will come to Ger by themselves and put their hand in his to cross the road. Ger, who is one of three men named as provincial winners in the competition, is among the hundreds of school traffic wardens around the country who ensure that primary school children cross public roads safely to and from school. They can only stop vehicles if they are wearing their uniform and holding their distinctive lollipop-style 'stop' sign. Anyone who fails to stop their vehicle for a lollipop person is guilty of an offence under Section 96 of the Road Traffic Act, and faces a fine of €160 and two penalty points. Irish company, Tonstix Travel Pops, set out to honour these unsung road safety heroes by inviting people to nominate their favourite lollipop person. Alongside Mr Gleeson in Munster, Naomi Doyle, who has worked as a lollipop lady outside Gaelscoil an tSeanchaí in Magherafelt, Derry, for 10 years was named the Ulster winner. Naomi Doyle, who works outside Gaelscoil an tSeanchaí, Magherafelt, Derry. The Leinster winner is Joe Quigley, who has worked for 16 years outside St Joseph's NS in Dundalk, Co Louth; and the Connaught winner is Thomas O'Brien, who works outside St Attractas NS in Charlestown, Co Mayo. They are now being considered as the potential winner of the overall national title. Sinead Crowther, the co-founder and CEO of Louth-based Soothing Solutions, which makes the Tonstix range of honey jelly pops that provide an alternative to children's lozenges, said they were delighted with the response to the competition. 'Lollipop people keep our children safe every day. They bring joy, smiles, and a sense of security to families across Ireland,' she said. Voting for the winner opened on Friday, with the title set to be awarded on June 23, just before the summer holidays. The winner will receive a trophy and a €1,000 travel voucher.
