Tipperary teacher who 'instilled a love of art' in his students retires

There was more than a tinge of sadness in Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed as Art Teacher Mr PJ O’Connell retired from teaching after more than three decades working with second-level students and PLC students in Coláiste Mhuire.

During his years of teaching, PJ was a fully committed, hardworking and inspirational educator who influenced countless numbers of students to progress onto Art College where many became Art teachers, purely because of the love instilled in them for Art by PJ.

Being in the company of Mr O’Connell was always an enjoyable experience for students & teachers who brightened up one’s day with his good humour and witty one liners!

There was always an air of calmness in his Art room that attracted people in for a chat or a time out in an ambience that displayed the finest of artwork from students over the years.

The old seanfhocal ‘Ní bheith a leithéad arís ann’ is most certainly true in the case of our dear colleague PJ who made time for everybody and treated everyone the same.

We wish him all the best in his retirement and say thank you ó chroí for the laughs, the chats, the memories and the friendship over the many years in Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed Thurles.

Full Caption: Pictured in the photograph are from left to right Ms Geraldine Cahill, Mr. PJ O’Connell, and Ms. Regina Dorney of the CMCO Art Department with TY student Neil Ryan (second from left) who drew a portrait of his teacher and presented it to him. 

Contributed to School Days in the Tipperary Star by Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed