Teachers bid fond farewell
FOUR HONOURED BY ASTI
At a retirement function in the Horse and Hound for four ASTI members who have retired from teaching were, front (from left): Magaret O'neill and Marie Baker, both retired. Back: Gene O'sullivan, retired, Eithne Ford, Chairperson New Ross Area ASTI,...
THE NEW Ross branch of the ASTI honoured four retiring teachers at a function in the Horse and Hound recently.
To mark the occasion Marie Baker, Margaret O'neill, Michael O'neill and Gene O'sullivan were each presented with a special silver emblem of the ASTI by branch officers, Chairperson Eithne Forde and Secretary Colette Tinnelly.
Marie Baker, who retired from Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School, commenced her teaching career in St. Mary's Secondary School in the Irishtown before joining the staff in the Holy Faith, where she was a PE teacher for a number of years and co-ordinated the school trips for many years.
Her fellow colleague, Margaret O'neill commenced her teaching career in Good Counsel College and then transferred to the Holy Faith, where she taught Science to Junior Cert and Physics and Biology to Leaving Cert. Margaret was Chairperson of the New Ross Branch for a number of years and represented the branch on Central Executive Council (CEC).
Retired Good Counsel College Science and Physics teacher Micheal O'neill has been a mainstay of the New Ross ASTI branch for many, many years acting as Chairperson, Secretary and delegate to CEC. For the past number of years he won election to the national governing body of the ASTI, Standing Committee representing the South East - New Ross, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Waterford.
The former Principal of St. Mary's Secondary School, Gene O'sullivan also commenced his teaching career in Good Counsel College. Following a break for a Career Guidance Diploma in UCD he transferred to St. Mary's as Career Guidance Counsellor, later becoming Deputy Principal when Louise Hennessy retired and then Principal until he retired in August.
The four members who retired were joined by their former colleagues and ASTI members from the member schools; Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Mary's; Good Counsel College; Ramsgrange Community School as well as former teachers from St. Mary's and Good Counsel who had retired in previous years.
