IN PICTURES: Celebration as eight teachers retire from Laois secondary school

A big change of guard has taken place at Mountrath Community School. No less than eight teachers retired from the secondary school recently.

Many of them had served in the Patrician College Ballyfin, Mountrath Brigidine Convent and St Aengus VEC, all of which had amalgamated back in 2009 to form Mountrath CS.  Full story below gallery of photos. Tap NEXT to view them all.

The school held a shared celebratory night out in the Midlands Park hotel in October to mark the event.

The retirees are Kevin Egan, Tom Devane, Br Gerry Reburn, Colm O’Toole, Anne Moore, Margaret Burke, Joya Dunne and Aiden Feeley.

Kevin Egan is a Science and Physics teacher who hails from Ballyfin and previously worked in Patrician College Ballyfin.

Tom Devane, a Maths and Business teacher, originally from Galway and now living in Portumna was also a teacher from Patrician College Ballyfin.

Br Gerry Reburn, a Religion and History teacher, a Cavan man living in Ballyfin. It is a poignant moment that Gerry is the last of the teaching Patrician Brothers who taught in the Ballyfin big house for almost two centuries from 1810 to 2009.

Also retiring is Colm O’Toole, a proud Mayo man, living in Portlaoise who also worked in Patrician College Ballyfin and Colm taught Irish and History.

Anne Moore of Castletown was the Chaplain in Mountrath Community School and previously worked in the St Aengus’ VEC.
Margaret Burke, a native of Tipperary, is an Art teacher who previously worked in the Brigidine Convent in Mountrath.

Joya Dunne, a career guidance teacher had also previously worked in the Brigidine Convent.

Aiden Feely, a wonderfully talented musician taught Music and French and German in the school and was in charge of the music for all school events over the years.

Aiden was also a teacher in the Patrician college.

The evening was filled with stories, laughter and memories as colleagues came together to celebrate the long standing services of these eight teachers. It was a night to remember and the memories will be treasured by the staff for many years to come.