This article is from page 33 of the 2007-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
NOSTALGIA was in the air for a Shannon woman last week, when she took up a teaching post in the school she attended 22 years ago.
Joanne O’Sullivan (nee Meehan) was a first year student at St Caimin’s Community School, when it first opened its doors in 1985. Now, 22 years on, she returns to the school as a special needs teacher.
The 34-year-old has now joined a number of her own former teachers Omen om even
Joanne is thrilled with her new job, in somewhat familiar surroundings.
“T’ve had plenty of jobs, but this is the most welcoming place I have ever worked. It is brilliant,” she said.
“11 or 12 of the teachers that taught me are still on the staff. They are still exactly the same,’ she added.
“*T have never felt so comfortable in any place,’ she said.
“When I was in school, I had never had a desire to have a career. The principal Mary Hanley wanted me to be a teacher,’ she laughed.
Nine of her relations are students in the school, so there is something of a family feeling at work.
Joanne left school at 17 and later married her childhood sweetheart Don O’Sullivan. The couple have since had three boys – DJ (9), Adam (7) and Cian (5) – and Joanne decided to take up a full-time job this year. Cian also started primary school last week.
Joanne substituted in St Conaire’s primary school for the past few years and 1s now re-adjusting to the sur-
roundings at St Caimin’s.
There is one key difference how- ever. The old St Caimin’s school building has since been replaced and Joanne is getting used to the new loleunKebuetss
She also plans to assist in training the school’s camogie team, having starred in the sport when she was in school. One familiar face on the staff for Joanne is Deborah Dalgarno. She was in Joanne’s class and is the school’s secretary.
Three other teachers – Dara Dunne (Metalwork), Niamh McDonnell
(Religion) and Patricia Maguire (English and History) – are also past pupils of the school. Current deputy principal John Cleary has been a member of the teaching staff since the school first opened.
Mary Hanley, who has worked at the school since it opened – she was appointed principal five years ago – is delighted to have the former pupils Om aomE-UEe
“Joanne is like as if she never left the place. We are delighted she is going to help out with the camogie,” she said.
She also pointed out that the parents of 23 of the school’s current students also attended St Caimin’s.
“T was shocked to realise that the parents of so many students attended the school,’ she said.