PHOTOS: Laois school bids farewell to three popular teachers

A Laois school community has bid farewell to three retiring teachers, sending them off with a touching assembly.

Coláiste Íosagáin in Portarlington celebrated the retirement of teachers Mr John Heraty, Mr Paul Daly and Ms Joan O’Sullivan.

On Monday afternoon, students formed a guard of honour to welcome the teachers into the PE hall, to the sound of student Matthew Ryan singing ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra.

The school’s MC for the afternoon was Ms Margaret Nolan , who welcomed everyone to the celebration.

Ms Nolan warmly congratulated the retirees and thanked them for their loyal and committed service. She spoke about their significant contribution at the heart of Coláiste Íosagáin for so long.

“The retirees have collectively completed 104 years of service. 17,160 days where they showed up and consistently gave it their all. Their powerful and enduring legacy will live on in the heart, minds and memories of all their students and colleagues,” a representative of the school told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

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“We will miss each of you, while wishing you the very best in your retirement. We hope that you will get to do all the things that you enjoy now that you have packed your school bag for the last time. Gur fada buan sibh,” they said.

Adam O’Dea complied a slide show which he shared featuring memories of the colleagues.

On behalf of the student body, Josh Dunne and Holly Kerrigan shared a tribute to Mr Heraty, Ruby Mears and Ben McCann shared a tribute to Mr Daly, and Sadhbh Maher and Emma Rotaru shared a tribute to Ms. O Sullivan.

This was followed by Mr. David O’Reilly who read his tribute poem, ‘A note for Joan’.

Principal Justin Brown congratulated and wished the retirees well. He then presented a gift of appreciation to Mr Paul Daly, Ms Walsh to Mr John Heraty. Mr McGlynn made a presentation to Ms O’Sullivan.

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Aoibhe Hennessy, accompanied by Mr David O’Reilly, gave a rendition of the school’s traditional retirement song, ‘The Parting Glass’.

Staff member Ms Cathy Kane wrote a touching tribute to engineering teacher, Mr Daly.

“Having joined the staff in 2001, Mr. Daly became known as an expert in his subject area. Over the years, his Engineering room was more than just a classroom, it was a place where creativity, discipline, humour and life lessons came together in equal measure,£ Ms Kane wrote.

“Widely regarded as a teacher who “tells it as it is,” Mr. Daly earned enormous respect from generations of students through his honesty, fairness and unwavering standards. Beneath the straight-talking exterior is a teacher deeply committed to helping every student achieve their best,” she wrote.

“As he closes the door of Room 31 for the final time, Mr. Daly leaves behind a legacy measured not only in projects completed or grades achieved, but in the countless lives he shaped along the way.”

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Ms Margaret Nolan also wrote a touching tribute to Mrs Joan O’Sullivan.

“Mrs O’Sullivan has always been someone that anybody could turn to when they needed help. Her encouragement, kindness, and understanding have made a difference in the lives of countless students.

“She made her office a safe space that was open to everyone, and no matter how busy things became, she always took the time to listen, which is clearly shown by the long line of students waiting outside her office every day,” Ms Nolan said.

A school is more than just a building, it is the people who make it feel welcoming and safe. Mrs O’Sullivan helped create that feeling for all of us. She was an approachable role model for every student and contributed so much to making the school environment feel supported, comfortable, and welcoming,” she said.

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Mr Eoin Lawlor, a former student and fellow teaching colleague of Mr Heraty, wrote a touching tribute to him.

“Six new elements have been confirmed and added to the periodic table since 1992. This was around the time that John Heraty first ventured west, beyond the Pale, and arrived in an obscure outpost somewhere near the much-disputed Laois/Offaly border. There, in St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Portarlington, John began what would become a long and distinguished teaching career, sharing his talents across science, chemistry, maths and other subjects,” Mr Lawlor said.

“In 2000, John moved up the road during the amalgamation of St. Joseph’s and Scoil Mhuire and began teaching in what became Coláiste Íosagáin. It is here, as a teacher myself, that I had the distinct pleasure of working with John. It is here, too, that I became fully aware of some of John’s most admirable qualities, both professional and personal: his empathy, warmth and quiet kindness,” he said.

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“It is not only the students who have learned from John; all of us who have worked with him have learned so much about how to connect with young people and gain their trust.”

To see more photos from the retirement assembly, scroll to the bottom of the page and click NEXT.