This article is from page 8 of the 2013-04-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A WEST Clare school principal is expected to become the second president of the INTO from the county in six years.
At the primary teacher’s union 145th Congress in Cork this week, Mullagh’s Sean McMahon is likely to be elected vice president of the national union.
Traditionally this means he will become president at the union’s 2014 congress next Easter.
In March 2008, Corofin man Declan Kelleher was appointed president of the INTO after a long career in teaching and working for the union.
Like Mr Kelleher, Mr McMahon has been a strong union man championing the cause of small rural schools, class sizes and teaching principals.
The North Clare man has been involved in the INTO since the 1980s and had represented District 11; Clare, Tipperary and Waterford, on the CEC since 2007.
He will lead a strong delegation of 20 from the Clare branch of the INTO to a congress that will put forward such motions as calling for larger taxes for high earners and for free primary school education to live up to its constitutional claim.
The Clare West branch will also call for the INTO to fully investigate the proposed changes in school patronage with a view to ensuring that teachers’ rights are fully protected during these changes.
This proposal will be put forward by secretary of the branch Brid Hanrahan INTO and Liam Woulfe Principal of Labasheeda National School.