Despite the song, the music and the merriment, there were very emotional and nostalgic scenes in Killarney as an entire school community gathered to bid farewell to a hugely popular and respected teacher and principal who has retired after being at the helm for 33 years.
Pictures: Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan
Friday was Proinsias MacCurtain’s last day in the classroom and in the school office at Gaelscoil Faithleann and it will certainly mark the end of a golden era as he was appointed principal when the school first opened in September 1989.
Opting for early retirement, Proinsias will forever be remembered in Killarney as the man who turned the school into the major success it is today, overseeing the move from the smaller Brú na Pairce building to a new purpose-built school at Deerpark a decade after he arrived in town.
The new principal is Lisa Ni Iarlaithe, who has been on the teaching staff at the school since 1991, and the school has 245 children currently enrolled.
Earlier in the week the school enjoyed a boat trip and Mass on historic Innisfallen Island – from where it takes its name – and to further mark the occasion, pupils and staff gathered at Gaelscoil Faithleann for a farewell reception attended by the principals from other national schools in Killarney who got to hear Proinsias, an accomplished flautist, leading the gathered musicians.
Later than evening Proinsias and his family were toasted at a farewell reception, hosted by board of management chairman Seán Ó Luanaigh, and attended by staff and board members.
The organisers even arranged a very rare treat for Tournafulla, Co Limerick native Proinsias as they had the Sam Maguire Cup in attendance and it is very rare indeed that a Limerick man gets an up close view of the Holy Grail.
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