Pádraig has ‘no regrets whatsoever’ as retirement kicks off after 44 years
The 64-year-old has spent his entire professional life working at the school six miles from Cork city, which had fewer than 200 pupils when he joined in 1967. He has driven every day from home west of Macroom to the school, but this evening will be his last journey home from the school, where he has been principal since 1980.
“There was a surge in our numbers in the late 1990s and again in more recent years, and we have 567 pupils and a staff of almost 50 today,” he said.
“There’s a lot of administration in the job of a principal, but it’s been a labour of love. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the job and I have no regrets whatsoever,” said Pádraig, who is being joined in retirement by Eileen Keady, who taught at the school for 33 years.
Pádraig has seen enormous changes in education during his tenure, but says the most positive thing has been the child-centred curriculum introduced in 1999.
“There’s always an emphasis on reading, and writing and maths, but it also covers art, music and drama, which gives a great chance to children who might never set the world alight academically. Most of the highlights of my career have been the success of pupils in sports, in art competitions and our school musicals every two years,” he said.
“In my experience, the critical element in the education system is class size, particularly in a situation where we’re trying to integrate people of all abilities, so whatever else the Department of Education protects, it must protect class sizes,” said Pádraig.
As well as many highlights, he said the school has had a few low points, the worst of which has been the untimely death of pupils from ill-health. Pádraig and his wife Nuala had their own tragedy in the early 1990s, when their son Colm died of cancer aged 14, but he has also had tremendous comfort from the school.
“The staff and pupils of Cloghroe have been like a second family to me,” he said.
With his daughter Deirdre working at the school and colleague Emma Dineen, a fellow Irish National Teachers’ Organisation activist, taking the reins as principal, he is confident the school is in capable hands.
Pádraig joins in a kick-around with older pupils most days at the school and his passion for Manchester United was marked yesterday with the gift of a weekend away to see his team play Everton in April.
“I have no great plans for retirement made yet, but I’ll certainly do a bit of walking and travelling and reading,” he said.
