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Final send off is bittersweet for Proinsias

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By Michelle Crean

Friday was a day of very mixed emotions for retiring school principal Proinsias Mac Curtain as the school community said a fond farewell.

A fond farewell at Gaelscoil Faithleann for Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain who is presented with a cake from new Principal Lisa Ní Iarlaithe and pupils at the school on Friday as he steps down as principal after 33 years. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Present principals unite at Gaelscoil Faithleann to celebrate with Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain on his retirement on Friday. Back row l-r: Colm Ó Súilleabháin (St Oliver’s NS) Paul Horan (Holy Family NS Rathmore) Mary Brosnan (The Mon) Brian O'Sullivan (Scoil Bhride Loreto) Alison Coffey (Loughquittane NS) Maria Breen (Tiernaboul NS) and Conor Gleeson (Lissivigeen NS). Front row l-r: Proinsias Mac Curtain (Gaelscoil Faithleann) and Lisa Ni Iarlaithe (Gaelscoil Faithleann). Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Three cheers from all 245 pupils at Gaelscoil Faithleann for Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain (centre) as he retires from the school after 33 years. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Sam Maguire makes a special appearance at the Great Southern Killarney where staff from Gaelscoil Faithleann gathered for the retirement of principal Proinsias Mac Curtain after 33 years’ service. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

A musical departure at Gaelscoil Faithleann as Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain (right) retires after 33 years. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Past and present pupil mother and daughter Aisling (left) and Alanna Collins (right) pictured with Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain at Gaelscoil Faithleann on Friday for his retirement celebrations at the school. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Pictured with his family Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain (centre) retires from Gaelscoil Faithleann after 33 years. From l-r were: Cormac Meadhbh Karen and Ruadhán. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

A musical affair as Principal Proinsias Mac Curtain (seated centre) retires from Gaelscoil Faithleann after 33 years. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

He got a wonderful send off in Gaelscoil Faithleann on Friday morning last with cake, music, speeches and some tears.

All the children sat in the hall and sang some traditional Irish songs inspired by the John Spillane collection. His wife Karen and children Ruadhán, Meadhbh, and Cormac, were guests of honour.

Local principals including Colm Ó Súilleabháin from St Oliver’s NS, Paul Horan from Holy Family NS Rathmore, Mary Brosnan from The Mon, Brian O'Sullivan from Scoil Bhride Loreto, Alison Coffey of Loughquittane NS, Maria Breen, Tiernaboul NS, and Conor Gleeson from Lissivigeen NS, attended to say farewell to a great friend.

"Local musicians who play with Proinsias on a regular basis turned up and this was a surprise," his colleague Lisa Ní Iarlaithe told the Killarney Advertiser.

"The school staff and Seán Ó Luanaigh, the Chair of the Board of Management, were all in attendance too."

Every child in the school drew a portrait of their príomhoide and they were all hung in the hall as well as some photos of Proinsias from when he was a small school boy right up to the present day.

"He really enjoyed looking at these surprises on the day. The children presented him with a beautiful piece of slate with a poem close to his heart, a huge card signed by all the children and staff and a cake with the school crest and a feadóg mhór and music notes."

Later that evening the Board of Management treated Proinsias to an evening in the Great Southern Killarney.

"It was a bittersweet occasion," Lisa, who is taking over as principal of the school, added.

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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