Eamonn Horgan was raised in a house just across the road from the national school in Doneraile that he was to go on to have such a long association with. Eamonn retired on Wednesday of this week as principal of the Presentation Convent School. He'd been teaching in Doneraile for 46 years altogether, the first 26 at the CBS primary school, and, for the last 21 years, at the Presentation NS.

Eamonn says he has "lovely memories" of his own school days at the Presentation where he was taught by Sr. Kevin in junior infants and by Sr. Coleman in senior infants.

"There was little money but my mother was great, she realised the value of education," Eamonn recalls of his early family life. One of a family of seven, his older sister and brother left school at an early age to go to work to help the family financially. "That kept the rest of us in education," he explains.

Eamonn didn't start out in teaching, he followed his sister to work in the sugar factory, working there for four months. When the call to teaching came, he says, "I wasn't overly enthusiastic." His young age may have been the reason. He did his Leaving Cert at 16, managed to get into St. Pat's teacher training college in Drumcondra, Dublin by a mere 15 days and began teaching at 19. Whatever the reason, his early lack of enthusiasm changed along the way as Eamonn became synonymous with education in Doneraile over the next four decades.

Eamonn has lived all his life in Doneraile, raising his family of nine with his wife Catherine, nee Ryan. "I always wanted to be here, I love my own area," Eamonn says simply, before going on to extol the virtues of his native town, including waxing lyrical on the great amenity that is Doneraile Park. Eamonn is an active member of the committee working on the development of the park.

13 INTO 1

Catherine too is a native. Eamonn recalls, as a young teacher, being approached by the parish priest of the time, who, anxious that he stay on in the town, told him "we'll get you a wife from here." Eamonn managed to do so without outside help though, and he and Catherine, of whom he speaks glowingly, had nine children, six girls and three boys. It was difficult enough to find space in their four bedroom house for the 11 of them, but Eamonn also remembers them keeping Spanish students over the years to augment his income, at which time they were really stretched for space! "There would be 13 in the house sometimes," he recalls. He used to teach Spanish students during the summer holidays.

Eamonn was happy teaching in the CBS when he was approached, after the Presentation nuns left the girls school, and asked to transfer there. He decided to make the move. "It was different teaching girls after 26 years of teaching boys. They all have their own qualities," he says. He taught 5th and 6th classes at the Presentation.

He brought his own love of sport and drama into both schools. In drama it was most often through the medium of Irish. The Presentation brought home lots of trophies over the years including some All-Ireland titles. "Drama was a big thing. We did lots of Scór competitions and we always put on a show in the school every year."

On trips to Dublin to take part in competitions, Eamonn would organise for his pupils to stay overnight and take them to sites of historical interest the next day, places such as Glasnevin cemetery, burial place of Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera, Arthur Griffith, Maude Gonne, Kevin Barry, Roger Casement, Constance Markievicz and Brendan Behan among others. They'd visit the Dail too. "Tom Barry (the TD and a former pupil of Eamonn's) looked after us well on such visits," Eamonn says. Hallowe'en parties were also an annual feature at the school. In summer Eamonn would take pupils down to the river to swim and indeed, did so again recently.

In his time in the CBS Eamonn taught the lads football and was gratified to have three of his pupils on the minor team which won the All-Ireland final in 1981. The next year he had two more pupils in the final and two more the following year. In 1983 he trained the Cork minors. He was also involved in training hurlers, making the lengthy trip to Lismore to train their team for four years. He also trained Doneraile hurlers.

LOVE OF COMMUNITY

Outside of school Eamonn took an active part in community life. He started a scout troop in the town in 1979.  "I always liked the values of the Scout movement," he explains. He credits the late Patrick O'Brien, who passed away three weeks ago, with keeping it going over the years.

Recalling his long career as it came to a close this week, Eamonn told The Avondhu "it was a real privilege for me to teach here in my own school." He paid tribute to the "wonderful" teaching staff who have worked with him in the school and lauded the sterling work of the school secretary and caretaker. He included in the plaudits Parish Priest Fr. Toby Bluitt. He was also keen to praise parents for their close links with the school. "There's great community spirit for the school," he pointed out.

A recent visitor to the school was local man Michael Quirke, who won the Irish Open Seniors Golf in Northern Ireland three weeks ago, beating off competition from over 130 competitors to take the title. Eamonn cites him as an example of community support for the school. He also says that some of the students of Nagle Rice Secondary School in the town still call into the school to visit on those afternoons they get off early.

Among the many students Eamonn has taught over the years have been his own children. Apart from two of his sons who attended the CBS after he'd left there, Eamonn taught all of his own daughters in the Presentation. More than that, Eamonn had the opportunity to teach the eldest of his three grandchildren, Anna for the past two years. She leaves this week for secondary school as her grandfather leaves the school for good.

Generations of the same family have been taught by Eamonn, such as John Shinnick whom he taught in first class at the CBS and has taught his daughter Siobhán in 6th class at the Presentation. They were among the large crowd who attended the weekend celebrations marking Eamonn's long teaching career.

ENCOURAGEMENT KEY

A career spanning over four decades is bound to have seen plenty of changes. Eamonn agrees. In the early days, he says, people had very little. Despite the current recession he believes people are generally more affluent though there is still need. One of the biggest changes is in how children are treated in school. From the days of 'being seen and not heard', children are now encouraged to speak, actively engage in class and give their views. It's an ethos Eamonn heartily subscribes to. "I tried to be encouraging and positive. I was firm alright but I tried to bring them onside with me. I always encouraged openess, gave the chance to the child to speak their mind."

He says he never had any discipline problems. An inspector asked him once if he'd ever suspended a pupil. His reply was that he'd never needed to. Knowing the family background of his pupils helped. "I could make allowances, knowing of particular family circumstances," Eamonn explained.

There's been technological changes too of course. Eamonn used a slate to write on in his early school days, they now work with interactive white boards at the school. New students from different cultural backgrounds have been "a great addition" to the school, Eamonn says. They have pupils of Chinese, Korean and Nigerian origin. Eamonn is pleased at how well they have integrated.

While Eamonn feels very privileged to have had a long career in his much loved homeplace, life hasn't been without its difficulties. His eldest son Padraig died tragically in December 2002. It was an awful tiime for Eamonn and Catherine and their family. "The children kept me going, they lifted me up. They'd write me little letters and cards," Eamonn recalls of his young pupils.

Last December Ea
monn and his family raised €9,165 for Pieta House to go towards work on the Cork centre, to mark the tenth anniversary of Padraig's death. They organised an art exhibition to commemorate Padraig's life. The exhibition involved almost 200 displays over three floors with paintings coming from all over the country and two even coming from Korea.

STRONG SUPPORT

Hundreds of people called to the Main Street premises in Doneraile to pay tribute to Padraig and to support the exhibition, which was organised by committee members Seamus Hunter, Fidelma Nolan, Jack Neenan, Eddie O'Farrell, Michelle O'Sullivan and the Horgans - Eamonn Snr, Catherine, Orlaith, Eamonn Jnr. and Claire. That same committee, minus Eamonn senior, organised last Friday's 'Beat on the Street' celebration to mark Eamonn's retirement. The day began with a special Mass in the church on Friday morning celebrated by Fr. Bluitt. Afterwards there was a reception in the school with all classes performing dramas, song and dance and refreshments served. The evening celebrations went on into the early hours of Saturday morning.

It was an emotional time, Eamonn admits. The events were attended by many past pupils, testament to the esteem and fondness in which he is held. Eamonn also enjoys the deep respect of the teaching profession. While visiting him at the school on Monday afternoon of this week, our interview was interrupted while Eamonn took a call from a former school inspector, Pat O'Connor from Kilworth, who rang to wish him well on his retirement.

So how will Eamonn spend his new found leisure time? He'll continue his involvement with the development of Doneraile Park and also with the tea rooms in the town. He'll organise some more of the guided walks of the area he does. There'll be time for golfing and bowls, another sport he enjoys. He hopes to do some more travelling with Catherine. And then there's the books of Canon Sheehan that he wants to read. Mostly though, you sense, Eamonn will be happy walking in the park and around the area he loves so much.

Meanwhile, there are more celebrations to come. On Saturday night it's the turn of the former CBS pupils to honour Eamonn. The Cork minor footballers will also attend the function at Doneraile Golf Club, where once again Eamonn's sterling service to the school and community will be recognised.

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