Connect with us

News

Emotional farewell as Mrs Murphy retires

Published

on

GIFT: Ursula Coffey (Principal) presenting Breda Courtney Murphy with a special gift on behalf of staff and pupils from Holy Cross Mercy School on Friday, where Breda retired after almost 40 years service. Photo: Sally MacMonagle.

 

By Michelle Crean

 

For almost 50 years, Breda Courtney Murphy has had a very special relationship with Holy Cross Mercy School - so it was an emotional farewell last Friday when she finally said goodbye.

There were tears and also cheers as staff and pupils celebrated her school life as she prepares to take a different direction with her career.

The creater of the successful ‘Mrs Murphy’s Copies’ was overwhelmed with the send off and said it's a day that she'll never forget.

"I chose to retire. I'm changing direction and going publishing full-time and will focus on different projects as well," Breda told the Killarney Advertiser.

Breda started her teaching career with Holy Cross when she was aged 20. However, her relationship with the school goes further back as she attended the primary school for eight years before spending a year at St Theresa's, which was part of the Mercy, before it amalgamated with St Brigid's - a relationship totalling 49 years.

[caption id="attachment_34167" align="alignleft" width="375"] RETIREMENT: Breda Courtney Murphy retired from the Holy Cross Mercy School in Killarney last week after almost 40 years service. She is photographed here with her Senior Infants class and her grandnieces Grace Finnegan, Kayla and Rhianna Wright and Lily O'Donoghue. Photo: Sally MacMonagle.[/caption]

During her last day at work Breda was joined by her husband Con, her mother Bridie and four grandnieces who attend the school.

Breda said it was emotional as staff had put together a photo slideshow to her favourite song 'High Hopes' by Kodaline. She made a speech thanking everyone which was live streamed into the classrooms due to social distancing. School Principal Ursula Coffey also offered up some kind words.

"It was very heartwarming. The effort the staff put in was second to none and that will always be with me. The hardest part was saying goodbye to the children."

Continue Reading
Advertisement

News

Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]

Published

on

0264056_shutterstock364523669.jpg

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney

The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.

Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.

He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.

At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.

“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.

“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”

In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.

“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.

“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Ballymac charity vintage run on October 1

The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1. The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac. Registration […]

Published

on

0264265_20230917105100_1.jpg

The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1.

The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac.

Registration begins at 9:30am and sets off at 11am.

“There will be two separate routes with one for tractors and the other for cars and motorbikes. Proceeds on the day are in aid of Castleisland Day Care Centre and we’ll have plenty of spot prizes to giveaway too in the morning,” said the club’s PRO Kieran Glover.

Attachments

Continue Reading

LOCAL ADS

Last News

Advertisement

Sport

Trending