No shortage of occasion in Glens

THE peninsula’s oldest school has enjoyed a momentous week, marking not only its 140th anniversary but a range of other interesting happenings also.

Scoil an Ghleanna - located in Glens, just outside Dingle - welcomed parents, locals, and well-wishers on Friday (June 16) for its end-of-year school Mass, which was celebrated by one of its former pupils, Fr Joseph Begley.

The Mass served as a farewell to the school’s Sixth Class pupils, but the school also said goodbye to Kay O’Sullivan, who will move to a position at Scoil Iognáid Rís in Dingle after spending 12 years teaching in Glens.

“Máire Uí Mhurchú made a presentation to Kay on behalf of the school’s Board of Management, with everyone wishing Kay nothing but the very best in her future endeavours,” Principal Seanachán Mac Gearailt said of the very popular teacher.

Kay said goodbye in a memorable manner, raising a blue flag, an honour the school received from the European Commission (EC) in 2016.

“The blue flag is not something that many other schools have.” Seanachán said.

“We received it from the European Commission last year for a project some of our classes undertook. The pupils studied the geography, language, history, and art of the European Union, and their hard work paid off with recognition from the EC.

“We felt Kay was the perfect person to raise the flag, as it was her last official act as part of the school, and a fitting end to the brilliant contribution she has made to Scoil an Ghleanna, complemented perfectly by our 6th Class pupils’ music under their brilliant conductor Deirdre Ní Chinnéide.”