Sr Colette, flies the flag before her retirement from teaching

A popular teaching sister, who has helped mould generations of children in Killarney, Co Kerry, has retired after a career of well over 40 years.

Sr Colette Dennehy, assistant principal at Holy Cross Mercy primary school, was the last nun to teach in the school.

Her retirement coincided with celebrations to honour the Mercy Order’s contribution to education and healthcare in Killarney, where the order is marking its 170th anniversary.

The milestone event was marked at a special Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday where Bishop of Kerry Dr Ray Browne was the principal concelebrant and his predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Bill Murphy, delivered the homily.

The celebrations had continued throughout the afternoon at the 391-pupil Holy Cross Mercy school, established by the order several decades ago.

Principal Ursula Coffey said Sr Colette, who had been working in learning support in recent years, will be greatly missed.

“She was absolutely gifted when it came to helping anyone who was finding it more difficult to learn than anybody else,” said Ms Coffey.

“She’s always been a calm, unflappable and gentle personality, with a wicked sense of humour. She exuded the spirit of her order and it was always great to see her walking along the corridors with the small ones following behind her to her room.”

A native of Fossa, Killarney, Sr Colette spent all her teaching life in the town. She was the last Mercy teaching sister in Kerry.

Prior to her departure, she had the honour of raising the school’s seventh Green Flag which is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by the school’s environmentally conscious green team.

The Mercy sisters were invited to set up a base in Killarney in the mid-1800s by the then bishop, Dr Cornelius Egan. The Earl of Kenmare later donated a site where the primary school now stands.