Fond farewell to Mary on Scoil Bhríde retirement

SCOIL Bhríde Loreto National School celebrated the great work done by Principal Mary O’Sullivan at her retirement from the school on Monday.

Mrs O’Sullivan served 22 years as the Principal of the Killarney school. Speaking of her retirement, she said she is very grateful for the time she spent in Scoil Bhríde.

“I am very grateful for the kindness, goodwill, support and friendship of staff, parents, pupils and Board of Management, which I have enjoyed for the past 22 years. I will miss everyone in Loreto and will have many happy memories of my time with you all.”

Mrs O’Sullivan, who is a native of Kilkenny, began her teaching career in 1978 in the Presentation Convent in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, and spent her final year there as the school Principal.

In 1996, Mrs O’Sullivan was appointed as the Principal of Loreto and has spent the last 22 years as a teaching Principal there.

The development of the students was always her primary focus throughout her career, and she tried to continue the ideals held by the founding member of the Loreto Order, Mary Ward: ‘Empowering young people to build a better future for others’.

The school marked the occasion on Monday with a Mass for both Mrs O’Sullivan’s retirement and end-of-year graduation, followed by refreshments in the school hall. Staff members, her family and friends all came together to celebrate everything Mrs O’Sullivan has done for the school, and she planted a tree in the grounds of Loreto as a memory.

However, one of the most memorable features of the day was the parting words she gave to the sixth – class pupils. “Be kind”; “Have a mind of your own and a strong back bone”; and “Have the good word, and if you can’t have the good word, have no word at all!”

ABOVE: from left) Photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin Mary O’Sullivan (seated centre) with staff members Evelyn O’Reilly, Edward Looney and (back Patricia Quigley, Mary Rose Clifford, Michelle O’Brien, Margaret, Claire O’Meara, Padraig O’Sullivan, Julie McCarthy and Noreen Shanahan. LEFT: Mary with her...

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Mary O’Sullivan, who retired from Loreto National School, planting a tree in the grounds at Loreto National School Killarney on Monday.