AFTER 40 years, Ed O’Brien said farewell to his days as an educator this week, but not without a special send-off from all at Holy Family NS.
The staff, pupils, parents and board of management showed their affection for the Monavalley native who has been principal of the Tralee school since 2009.
In a special, socially-distanced leaving ceremony on Wednesday, a number of presentations were made to Mr O’Brien while speakers praised his kind manner, professionalism, good humour and dedication to the job over the past 12 years.
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Ed’s teaching journey began when he went to Carysfort College in Dublin 1978. He graduated in 1981 and took up a post in a school in Loughlinstown until 1987.
He then decided to take a career break and found himself working in Saudi Arabia for three years, that is, until the Gulf War broke out.
A judicious decision to dodge Scud missiles was taken, with Ed and his wife Yvonne coming home to Tralee.
In 1991 he got a permanent job in CBS Primary and when his mother Eileen retired as Principal of Derryquay NS in 1992, Ed took over there until the Holy Family post came up in 2009.
“It was a big change coming from teaching principalship to an administrative role, because I loved the teaching and got huge satisfaction out of it,” Ed told TraleeToday.ie.
“But after a while, I adapted to all that’s involved in running a school. I had great support, especially from school secretary Maureen Murphy who is an amazing woman and knows all the families in the locality. She helped my transition from Derryquay to here,” he added.
Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday, Ed thanked the teaching staff, caretakers, members of the Board of Management — especially Barry Murphy and Brendan Fitzgerald — Fr Padraig and Fr Amos from Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church, the Parents Council and secretary Maureen Murphy for providing such amazing support over the years.
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He also thanked his wife Yvonne and children Aisling, Darragh, Cillian and Ferdia for their support.
From Junior Infants up to Sixth Class, pupils created special signs and artwork to mark the occasion and they also presented Ed with a ‘Book of Memories’ — in which they wrote their memories of the principal over the years.
And Ed will have fond memories of all the pupils he has taught over the years. “I’ve been involved with teaching children all my life and I’ll miss that. There is nothing like the innocence of a child and they way they look at things,” he said.
As for how he will spend his time now he has ‘put down the chalk’, Ed said he doesn’t have any immediate plans.
“I won’t do anything for the moment. I like working with my hands, woodwork and such, so I’ll buy a few tools to make things…my wife will be delighted!” Scroll down for photos…