Laois Offaly school bids farewell to three dedicated teachers

The large staff of a secondary school that serves Laois and Offaly gathered recently at The Killeshin Hotel to mark the retirement of three colleagues who have given decades of service to thousands of students.

Teachers in Coláiste ĺosagáin in Portarlington were gathered to mark the retirement of Jackie Kaye, Siobhan Higgins, Deputy Principal and Seamus Bennett, Principal. Jackie and Siobhan retired over the Summer and Seamus retired in October.

Jackie Kaye or Ms Murphy as she would have previously been known began her career in St Joseph’s CBS, Portarlington before it was amalgamated with Scoil Mhuire to form Coláiste ĺosagáin.

Jackie had a reputation has an excellent Maths Teacher and taught Honours Maths for a number of years. Jackie held many leadership roles in the school, but it was perhaps in her role as Co-Ordinator of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme that Jackie will be best remembered.

Jackie was passionate about the school’s successful LCA programme and oversaw its expansion. She was well respected by her colleagues and students and had a reputation as a straight talker and no-nonsense person. Jackie was wished well in her retirement, and it was hoped that she found plenty of time to engage in one of her passions – gardening.

Karen Walsh, Deputy Principal paid tribute to Siobhan Higgins again a native of Portarlington who gave over 30 years of loyal service to the school as a French and English Teacher and latterly as Deputy Principal.

Joan O'Sullivan Dep Principal, Karen Walsh Dep Principal, Justin Brown Principal making a presentation to Siobhan Higgins who retired as Dep Principal in 2022, with Declan Hutchinson and school secretaries Geraldine Tynan and Geraldine Murphy. Photo: Michael Scully.

Siobhan was involved in many roles in the school including Student Council and organising the annual Christmas Variety Show which was one of the highlights of the school year. In her speech Siobhan paid tribute to the school community which she described as her second family.

She said while she misses the students and staff, she doesn’t miss the Inspections, Staff Meetings and other aspects of school life. She was enjoying spending time with her husband Declan Hutchinson. Siobhan was joined on the night by her daughter Ciara, her three sisters and her Mam and Dad – Peg and Dermy.

Throughout her speech Siobhan sprinkled words of French showing she had never lost her passion for the subject.

Justin Brown, Principal spoke about the outgoing Principal Seamus Bennett. He observed he first encountered Seamus in 1991 in St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise when Seamus became his Maths Teacher.

Joan O'Sullivan Dep Principal, Geraldine Tynan Secretary, Justin Brown Principal making a presentation to Seamus Bennett who retired as Principal in 2022, Mrs Paula Bennett, Geraldine Murphy secretary and Karen Walsh Dep Principal. Photo: Michael Scully.

He then met Seamus again in 2002 when he interviewed Justin for a teaching job in Coláiste ĺosagáin and the rest is history.

Justin said Seamus was always very calm as Principal and was a great source of advice and wisdom. He never micromanaged and trusted and empowered people.

In his address Seamus noted that he spent 10 years in Portlaoise CBS between teaching and Deputy Principal and moved as Principal to Portarlington in 2000. He said when he started in the school it had enrolment of just 540.

Today it has a student population of close to 1100 and is one of, if not the largest schools in Laois and Offaly. Seamus paid tribute to the two Ger’s in the office – Geraldine Tynan and Geraldine Dempsey who were always very loyal as well as Siobhan and the other Deputy Principals.

Laois and Offaly committee want local stories to send around the world

Seamus said he worked with six Deputy Principals, three of whom went on to become Principals – Michael Nolan, Martin Gleeson and Justin. He hoped this was a positive reflection of his as Principal and the school. He said he always enjoyed working with the staff and students but now is kept busy helping his son James with their dairy farm enterprise.

Seamus was joined by his wife Paula and three of his four children – Niamh, James and Emer. His other son Peter was away on
holidays.

On the night the staff were delighted to be joined by three other retired members of staff – Sr Maureen O’Rourke PBVM a former teacher and school chaplain who is now living in Galway, Frank Smith a former Principal of St Joseph’s CBS and Nick Bergin who was a Science, Maths and Biology Teacher in the school for a number of years.

The new Principal concluded by noting that when he started teaching in the school he and his contemporaries looked up to the older members of staff like Tim Hewitt, Peter Lowry, Noel Reilly, Seamus MacGearilt, the late Christine Fox, Ger Walton and Bernadette Mullen, among others. Now they were all retired and those young teachers are the new seniors.

Laois secondary school gets credit union gift for new book scheme

He said the school had undergone big changes in six months with the retirement of two long serving members of the Senior Management Team in Seamus and Siobhan, but it was a testimony to the staff that the transition was seamless and the school continues to grow and develop.

He also thanked the three Deputy Principal Karen Walsh, Brendan McGlynn and Joan O’Sullivan for their Trojan work as well as his two right hand women – the two Ger’s. He also paid tribute to the students and said the school should always be about them. He said it is often remarked that there is a very positive relationship between the staff and students in the school and he said this was something that was developed and maintained over the years and says so much about the young people of Portarlington and environs as well as the hardworking and dedicated staff who were so committed to the school. He concluded by saying he considered himself very fortunate to be the Principal of such a great school.