School principal and Waterford coach bows out after 35-year teaching career

A familiar face will be missing when the Presentation Secondary School Clonmel management, teachers and staff return after the Christmas holidays.

School principal Michael O’Loughlin is retiring this Friday, as he calls time on his 35-year teaching career.

Clonmel man Michael, son of Johnny and the late Kathleen O’Loughin from College Avenue, spent 11 years teaching at De La Salle in Kildare town, before taking up a post as PE and English teacher at the Presentation in Clonmel in 2001.

He was appointed Deputy Principal in 2003, a role he also filled between 2015 and 2019, and served as Principal from 2010-2015 and from 2019-2025.

Since he began in 1990, he has witnessed major changes in the field of education.

“There have been huge changes in teaching and learning in the classroom,” he says.

“IT now plays a huge part in the lives of teachers, students and management. The system is really dependent on IT, compared to 20 years ago when everything was done with paper and pen.

“One of the biggest changes is the pace of school life. It has gone frantic, with constant communication and emails that need to be responded to immediately.

“The administration and management side of the job doesn’t allow principals and deputy principals to get out teaching.

“But at the end of the day we’re all here to do our best for the students, management, teachers and SNAs (Specials Needs Assistants)”.

He says that they are fortunate in that the school’s academic results have always been top class.

“In fairness to the teachers, our Junior and Leaving Cert results have always been above average”.

He also reflects on developments in the school, which now has two ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) classes and a new all-weather pitch.

“We have been lucky to get access to the senior college, the old boarding school, which was gifted to us by the Presentation Sisters. That has been a huge plus for the campus”.

He said that an exciting project for the school in the next few years will be the addition of a new €10 million building with ASD rooms as well as classrooms for science, art and tech graphics.

Michael says it has been a pleasure to work with such outstanding teachers, colleagues and senior management, board of management and parents, as well as “our excellent students, who bring something different to your life every day in school”.
Since he became involved in the school’s senior management he says that every day is different.

“You would never be bored. Every day is challenging but really enjoyable. I really enjoyed my time in the school. The senior management team is only as good as the staff and pupils.

“We had the whole Presentation ethos that made the school a special community in which to work”.

The new principal is Jenny Williams, a former teacher at the school who returns after a spell as principal in Ard Scoil na Déise in Dungarvan. Michael extends best wishes to Jenny and Deputy Principal Róisín Hennessy, the new senior management team.

As for the future, he says he’s delighted that the Board of Management have asked him to project-manage the all-weather pitch next year.

Michael’s plans also include travel, while his involvement as coach with the Waterford Under 20 footballers and the Comeragh Rangers senior ladies football team means that he will have plenty to occupy him as he embarks on the next phase of life.

Michael and his family are wished all the very best for the future.