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Photographer : Neilus Buckley
Couple : Sr Mary Retires
Date : 12 May 2010

School principal retires, Kinsale Honours Sr. Mary Donovan

THANKS a million from a grateful town for serving us so well for so long and for working so hard and achieving so much, said Mayor of Kinsale Tomás O’Brien at a town council reception in Acton’s Hotel on May 28th in honour of Sister of Mercy Mary Donovan who has retired after 25 years as principal of Kinsale Community School and prior to that Our Lady of the Rosary Secondary School.There was a very large turnout of public representatives, teachers, staff, parents, students plus many friends and supporters of the school to pay tribute to Sr Mary, a native of Drimoleague.‘There isn’t a minister, TD, senator or councillor for this area, past or present who doesn’t know Sr Mary who continued to impress on all of them over many years, the need for a new school on a green field site. Following a hard fought campaign, Kinsale Vocational and the Convent secondary schools amalgamated and the new Kinsale Community School opened in 1996 and it wasn’t long before the Sr Mary was to the fore in the next project, an extension which was granted after much lobbying and today Kinsale is in need of a further extension, such is its popularity.’Reflecting on the school’s many successes in academic achievement and in sports, music, drama art, design, debating, maths quizzes and most notably twice producing winners of the Young Scientist of the Year competition, the mayor said it continued to punch above its weight leaving many fee-paying schools in it wake. Sr Mary led a great team in creating one of the best community schools in the country and he and his fellow councillors were delighted to honour a lady who followed her religious vocation, achieved so much and brought knowledge to many.The mayor presented to Sr Mary a specially commissioned photograph of the school by Nelius Buckley captioned ‘The school that Sr Mary built’ after which Nelius presented a portrait photograph of the retiring principal and thanked her for being so very supportive, approachable and understanding to him and his family since 1995.Garda James O’Mahony said both he and Sr Mary came to Kinsale in 1984 and recalled how she broke the mould by inviting him as a Garda officer to talk to pupils at the former convent school. ‘Sr Mary always had young people at the centre and put them first and when the annals of history of this town are recorded, her name will be prominent’. The juvenile liaison officer also spoke of how Sr Mary worked in a quiet way for many people, adding that she was honest, hard working, direct and straightforward.Mr Charles Dolan on behalf of Eli Lilly, a long time benefactor of the school, paid tribute to Sr Mary for her leadership, passion and vision for the betterment of the students. ‘You have left a tremendous legacy in Kinsale and the wider community’, he added.Mrs Eileen Murphy on behalf of the parents, thanked Sr Mary and wished her a happy retirement. Her association with her went back to the campaign she led with a group of parents of children attending the old convent school which had freezing conditions, a lack of space and a consequent limited range of subjects that could be taught. Sr. Mary left no stone unturned and overcame many hurdles to get a new school for Kinsale and today it had one that was the envy of many, she added.On behalf of the teaching staff, Cllr Tony Cierans opened by saying of Sr Mary ‘good leaders don’t follow a path, they create their own’ and in the course of a light hearted address said that during the 20 years he taught in Kinsale, Sr Mary was at the cutting edge of all activities and on a personal level spoke of the special relationship between the Sisters of Mercy and the lay teaching staff.‘Kinsale Community School strives for academic excellence, student welfare, a balance between hard work and extra curricular activities and all under the watchful eye of Sr Mary. She has only one concern and that is the students. She is interested in each and every one of them.’Cllr Cierans also spoke of her passion for best practice and said she expected the same in return. If she had something to say to you, she would say it straight out but if you needed a word of professional advice or an issue that needed resolving, she was also available to all. ‘I don’t live too far from the school and on most Saturdays or Sundays her car would be seen in the school car park. She is what is often called a grafter and there is no area in which she is unwilling to muck in.’Saying it was a privilege to work with her, he went on: ‘We admire your complete dedication. Thank you for creating from nothing the place that we call work. We share in your dream on a daily basis and it lived on a daily basis also by 746 children for whom the school is a safe and happy place to spend these vital years. You have built the school and you too are a rock of professionalism, integrity, generosity and leadership. You will be a hard act to follow and we will miss you’.Returning thanks, Sr Mary said she was overwhelmed by the messages of goodwill she had received and said it was a pleasure to work in such a happy atmosphere with the pupils, teachers and staff over the past 25 years and one that was based on the core value of respect with the children at the centre.She also paid a glowing tribute to boards of management and parent bodies over the years, the latter of whom raised £100,000 towards the building of the new school and along with herself never gave politicians a minute’s peace until it was delivered. The people of Kinsale had always been wonderful and so too were many business benefactors whom she listed while throughout her career the Sisters of Mercy were always been very supportive. All, she added, were companions on a journey which had been a pleasant and fulfilling experience. Sr. Mary concluded by thanking the Mayor and Kinsale TC for ‘a night that will always be special to me’ and the staff of Acton’s Hotel and along with other speakers extended best wishes to incoming principal Sean O’Broin.Earlier that day the students and staff of Kinsale Community School assembled to say a big thank you, farewell and to wish the very best to Sr Mary. A number of staff spoke at the ceremony in the gym; Don O’Shea highlighted how Sr Mary, though not an avid user, was a huge proponent of technology in education; Marie Hayes spoke of how Sr Mary supported and facilitated the sporting life of the school; Honor O’Brien reflected on how the pastoral care was at the heart of Sr Mary’s concern for students; and finally Tony Cierans spoke not only of Sr Mary’s love of roller-coasters and her cameo parts in the school shows but also of her huge support for the extra-curricular life of the school. Fergal O’Brien, Jennifer Ryan, Tessa Kingston and Jeremiah Wright spoke eloquently and ably on behalf of the students about Sr Mary’s contribution as a principal. The MC for the event was Seán O’Broin who summed up Sr Mary’s philosophy of education as one which always placed at the centre the best interests of the students.A presentation of photographs, a Kinsale crystal vase and flowers, was made on behalf of the students to Sr Mary. The ceremony ended as it had begun with sustained applause for the woman who has given so much to education in Kinsale.

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