Emotional farewell from Limerick school to three staff members
LIMERICK teachers Mary Lynch, Vincent Murphy and Don Ryan have walked the corridors of Colaiste na Trocaire in Rathkeale countless time, but never like this!
Students lined the corridors to clap and cheer the retiring trio who, between them, have over 100 years spent teaching and being part of the school community.
The emotion and shock is writ large on their faces in a moving video shared on the secondary school’s social media.
Ms Lynch, Mr Murphy and Mr Ryan all said farewell on the same day last week but Michael Behan, principal, wasn’t going to let them go without knowing just how highly thought of they are by students and staff.
“It was a complete surprise for them. We had organised some speeches and cakes in the staff room. During that time we asked the students to line up at the end of lunch so we really caught them by surprise,” said Mr Behan.
The principal said it was “a very emotional day”.
Mr Murphy, a metalwork teacher, has spent his entire teaching career of 35 years in Rathkeale. Ms Lynch, the school secretary, had joined six months prior to Mr Murphy and she too gave her working career to the school.
Mr Ryan, a business, accounting and maths teacher, has also spent 36 years in the classroom teaching future generations.
“We are losing over 100 years of experience and local knowledge and, of course, they will leave a huge void on our staff but at the same time it opens up opportunities for new teachers and secretaries to step in and become members of this fantastic, caring community,” said Mr Behan.
He said the video displays the close relationship between staff and students in Colaiste na Trocaire as Ms Lynch, Mr Murphy and Mr Ryan walk arm in arm through the school and stop to have a quiet word with or salute a student.
And it is not just the boys and girls and staff who will miss them.
“We recently had our extremely busy open night and as always, there were parents coming in, not just to see the wonderful work we do here, but to meet Mary, Vincent and Don too,” said Mr Behan, who wished his former colleagues the very best in their well-deserved retirement.
Class is dismissed for Ms Lynch, Mr Murphy and Mr Ryan.