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Francis Quill (seated fifth from left) at his retirement party at The Meadowlands Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
AFTER 41 years in Holy Family school, Francis Quill is taking a well-earned rest.
The Deputy Principal from Ashgrove is retiring this week and staff from the school joined his family for a celebration at The Meadowlands Hotel on Friday night.
Francis started off his teaching career in Dolphin’s Barn in Dublin in 1973 and later came back home to teach in CBS primary. He didn’t leave Dublin without finding a wife though and married Carmel Healy from Loughrea who was working in the civil service at the time.
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He moved across town to Holy Family in 1977 and has been there since. “I taught sixth class for many of those years,” said Francis. “It’s a long time teaching but you have to hang up the boots at some stage.”
Francis and Carmel have six children — Fergal, Ronan, Declan, Brendan, Louise and Caroline — and five grandchildren.
When asked about how he’ll fill his time from now on, he said he had no concrete plans except to “walk, cycle, read, go on a few holidays and take care of the grandchildren”.
Principal of Holy Family, Ed O’Brien, says he’ll miss having Francis around.
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“Francie is a gentleman, that’s what most people would immediately say about him. He has been such a great support to me since I came to the school nine years ago, but I knew him for years before that through indoor soccer. He is so reliable at school and committed too. He came out of the classroom seven years ago and went into Learning Support and gave the same enthusiasm to that role. He’s made great friends over the years and I’ll miss him.
“He was involved in so many things over the years, in athletics and the GAA where a number of Kerry players were taught by him. He was also involved in the French exchange programme in the school for 21 years and he has great friends there too. He has an amazing legacy and we all wish him well,” said Ed. Scroll down for photos…
Francis Quill (seated fourth from left) with his colleagues from Holy Family NS at his retirement party at The Meadowlands Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Francis Quill with his family Ronan, Declan, Caroline, wife Carmel, Louise, Brendan and Fergal at his retirement party at The Meadowlands Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
