Offaly Principal “who was kind, dedicated and hard working” retires

AS the sun shone down on Lumcloon NS, large numbers of parents, grandparents, past and present pupils along with former and the local community, gathered in Lumcloon NS to mark the retirement of the Principal Mr Greg Gilligan.
A lone piper Michael O’Brien (Tullamore) led the retiring principal along with 6^th class pupils over the little bridge leading to the school, the road he travelled every day.
Fr Pat Kiernan PP celebrated the special Mass accompanied by members of St Mary’s choir of which Mr Gilligan is a member. Gifts that were brought to the altar represented Mr Gilligan’s many talents including ipad, choir book, Bible, prayer leaflet etc. His late parents Jim and Chris along with his uncle Paddy were remembered as well as all family, during the Mass.
Fr Pat informed all that local man Greg Gilligan attended Lumcloon NS, Ferbane secondary school and St Pat’s in Dublin for his teacher training. “Greg went travelling to Saudi Arabia, came back to Dublin for a while, then back to Lumcloon where he was appointed teacher on September 1st 1992. He took off again back to the Middle East,” said Fr Pat, “where he stayed for two years before returning to Lumcloon where he has spent the last 33 years and was appointed principal in 2019.”

Previous Principal Catherine Doolan said that she and Greg “went back a long way”. She explained how they had gone to school and college together and graduated together. While they went in separate directions, their paths crossed again in 1992 when “Greg was teaching in his Uncle Paddy’s house while he awaited the delivery of the then state of the art brown prefab”.

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Ms Doolan recalled Greg’s knowledge of IT and how Lumcloon school had emails back in the early 90’s when no one else had them. She also recalled how he designed and developed the school website at a time when this was very new technology and how it won Irish website of the year, how they were presented with an award by Mary O’Rourke in Dublin.

“Through his experience as ICT advisor in Athlone Education Centre and in the National centre for Technology in Education, he made contacts on the national stage”. She went on to outline his many talents especially at as he continued to develop the school in all aspects like the leadership of former principals Mrs Guinan and Mrs Kerins before him. She said “your dedication to the students has always gone far beyond academics as you’ve helped generations of children grow into kind, confident, curious community people. Above all you led by example - with kindness, dedication, hard work and with integrity,” as she wished him many happy and healthy years in his retirement.

Alma McLoughlin, on behalf of the Parents Association, remarked that while her family’s journey was only starting in Lumcloon NS, Mr Gilligan’s journey “was coming to a close”. She went on to say “Lumcloon NS is very lucky to have had a principal who was approachable, personable, fair, respectful, passionate and dedicated to his work, productive and forward thinking.”

Staff members Ms Egan and Ms Keenan gave a humorous account of when they started in Lumcloon back in 2016 and how they called Mrs Doolan and Mr Gilligan “Mammy and Daddy, much to both of their delights”. A very funny detailed description of the “dreaded door alarm” was recounted. “He was not just our principal but our choir director, taxi driver, IT technician, delivery man, plumber, counsellor, baker and handyman.”

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They detailed all his achievements in the school which included IT grants, new Wi-Fi system, solar panels installed etc. the list went on.
“We are not just losing a wonderful principal, but a great friend and colleague. It also marks the end of an era as he is the last of the teachers who taught in Lumcloon in the last century.”
Chairperson the Board of Management Nora Higgins echoed the many tributes that were paid to Mr Gilligan as she thanked him for his “great work as teacher and administrator in the school through the years and for making the work of the BOM so much easier by his professionalism, honesty and dedication. Over the past few weeks I have been privileged to witness in this school the hard work and preparation (and a lot of deception) that has been put into this very special day for both Greg and the graduating students. It's almost tangible the feelings of gratitude, respect, loyalty and above all a deep affection from all the people you have come in contact with you and who were lucky to know you.”
On behalf of the choir, Nora said “we thank you Greg for your endless dedication, your musical talent and your ability to keep us all in tune which at times has been quite a painful process but your blind determination has always paid off.”

A somewhat emotional Mr Gilligan in thanking everyone, past and present BOM, made special mention for the five 6^th class pupils, Fiadh, Kayla, Jake, Reece and Ryan who were finishing up this June, and great praise was extended to their parents.
“My ties to this school and community run deep. I attended Lumcloon myself as did my brothers. My late parents were strong supporters of this school and I’ll never forget how my Uncle Paddy opened his home across the road to provide temporary classroom when I first began teaching here,” he said. He mentioned how “two extraordinary women, Teena Guinan and Eileen Kerin, had helped him through a very challenging time in his life.” He mentioned with fondness all the staff he worked with and the present staff who he said “was a joy and privilege to work with”.
He paid a special tribute to his family who he called “my safety net. Kathleen, Claire, Conor and Gary, thank you for always being there. Your love and support have been my foundation.”

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After the presentations, all adjourned to the forecourt where everyone was entertained by local musicians, children danced the Gillen set and also the hornpipe.