By Michelle Crean 

Memories flowed as much as the tears last week as pupils, colleagues and friends paid tribute to one of the town's best loved principals who has retired after over four decades in education. 

Ursula Coffey with her family celebrating her retirement as Principal and Teacher at Holy Cross Mercy School. From left were: Lee and Jennifer Buckley Kieran and Ursula Coffey Eithne McAuliffe Fintan and Laura Coffey. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Deputy Principal Anne Lucey retiring Principal Ursula Coffey and incoming Principal Alice O’Donnell Davern at the Hotel Europe celebrating the retirement of Ursula Coffey from Holy Cross Mercy Primary School. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Ursula Coffey with her family on the night of her retirement as Principal and Teacher at Holy Cross Mercy School. From left were: Jennifer Kieran Ursula and Fintan Coffey. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Ursula Coffey (seated centre) surrounded by her family and staff of Holy Cross Mercy School on Friday night in The Hotel Europe Killarney on the occasion of her retirement following 42 years of service. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Ursula Coffey arriving in style to her retirement dinner in the Hotel Europe with her husband Kieran and family. From left were: Lee and Jennifer Buckley Kieran and Ursula Coffey Fintan and Laura Coffey. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Marie Westlake making a presentation on behalf of the Parents’ Association of Holy Cross Mercy School to Ursula Coffey on the evening of her retirement. From left: Rhonda Healy Marie Westlake Alice O’Donnell Davern Ursula Coffey Anne Lucey and Breda Flanagan. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Some past teachers of Holy Cross Mercy School pictured with Ursula Coffey at her retirement dinner in the Hotel Europe Killarney on Friday night. Front from left were: Sr Colette Dennehy Ella Stack Ursula Coffey Siobhán Clancy and Helen Prendergast. Back from left: Breda Courtney Murphy Maureen O’Donoghue Mary O’Sullivan and Alison Coffey. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Bridget McGuire (Chairperson of the Holy Cross Mercy Board of Management) making a presentation to retiring Principal Ursula Coffey with Fr Niall Howard and Caitríona Behan. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Ursula Coffey who retired from Holy Cross Mercy School was best remembered for knowing each and every child by name as she greeted them every morning - and for her infamous homemade chocolate brownies which they say were a staple in the school for special days!

For much of her career at the school Ursula taught Sixth Class pupils in what some of her former pupils referred to as her “finishing school” preparing young girls for their transfer to secondary school.

Over the past 16 years she undertook the historic role of the first lay principal of the school.

Under the leadership of Deputy Principal, Anne Lucey with Breda Flanagan and Rhonda Healy, preparations were made for an event to celebrate Ursula’s long and distinguished contribution to life in Holy Cross. Each member of the staff and all of the pupils pulled out all of the stops to make this time a very special one for Mrs. Coffey. Her retirement celebrations began on Wednesday last with a school Mass which coincided with the annual celebration of Mercy Day, a very important feast day for all of the Mercy Community.

Speaking from the Altar in St Mary’s Cathedral Mrs. Coffey reminded all present of the strong links that Holy Cross Mercy School has, which are rooted in the Mercy Community and officially thanked the Mercy Sisters for their generosity to the school. Fr. Niall Howard, former school chaplain, led the pupils, staff, parents and community in prayer during the con-celebrated Mass.

Afterwards the school hosted a gathering in honour of Ursula. She was joined by her close friends and family members and welcomed with a guard of honour by the pupils in their red and grey uniforms waving Mercy flags and applauding.

Thursday saw a variety show put on by the pupils in an outpouring of gratitude and affection for their beloved outgoing principal. Song, poetry, artwork and drama rooted in the curriculum formed the basis for the variety show which was enjoyed by one and all. 

Friday saw Mrs. Coffey leave the school following her final day’s work. She left the building on New Road handing over her famously large bunch of keys to incoming Principal and former Mercy pupil Alice Davern. With rapturous cheers from one and all Mrs. Coffey bid farewell to the building she taught in and ran during her career.

Later that evening Ursula and her family were chauffeured by helicopter to the Hotel Europe where her retirement dinner was held. The pupils, parents, staff and Board of Management of Holy Cross Mercy School, wish Ursula and her family all the very best as she begins this next chapter of life’s journey.