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Paddy loves life in Haggardstown
Though he was born in Darver, Paddy McDonnell has lived in Haggardstown for forty eight years having moved here in 1960 when he took the position of Headmaster of St. Fursey's National School. Indeed, for Paddy the month that he arrived in Haggardstown was a very eventful one.
“I started the job as Headmaster on the first of July and I married my wife Helen on the 26th of July and I can safely say that they were the two best moves I ever made. I stayed in the job for thirty eight years and I have been married to Helen for forty eight years."
Having studied in the Teacher Training College in Drumcondra, Paddy took his first teaching role in Stonetown, Co. Louth. However, when he heard that the position of Headmaster of St. Fursey's N.S. had come up, Paddy recalls that he jumped at the opportunity.
“James Jordan retired as Principal of St. Fursey's that year and the position became available so I applied and I was delighted when I got the job."
Moving into the teacher’s residence, which remains their home to this day, the newly weds were soon immersed in the local community.
“We got a great welcome when we arrived and the wonderful support we received from the parents was to last throughout the years. Helen was from Blackrock, where her father was the Sergeant and I would have known quite a few local people through the football so we felt at home straight away."
However, for Paddy perhaps the greatest support came from the parents.
"From the very beginning when we had no facilities or money that generation of parents set a standard for the younger generation and it was a marvellous standard of support, co-operation and friendship."
Indeed the school that Paddy arrived to in 1960 was far removed from the modern St. Fursey's N.S. we know today.
"When I started it was a three teacher school, there were only two classrooms and the facilities were very basic to say the least. We had no proper toilets or running water so it is easy to forget how far we have come in the last fifty years."
In fact as Paddy recalls conditions were to temporarily deteriorate before they improved.
"In 1961 Father T.F. McDonald, the Parish Priest at that time succeeded in getting us another classroom and during the build we had to move to the old school where I taught 5th and 6th class in the cloakroom.”
However, the biggest development to the school was opened in 1987 by the then Minister for Education Mary O'Rourke and blessed by the late Cardinal O'Fiaich "We got six new classrooms, a general purpose room and a kitchen and it was the first time in my life that we actually had a staff room."
Apart from the growth and development of the school itself Paddy realised another ambition during his time as Headmaster.
"When I came to Haggardstown not many young people were going to secondary school so I set about trying to make sure that they were fit to go and it was most satisfying to see pupils doing well and going on to further education."
Paddy is also happy to report that a total of fifteen of his past pupils have become teachers themselves including his daughter Grainne who teaches in Bay Estate N.S. and the current Principal of St. Fursey's N.S., Mr. Eoin D'Arcy.
Having enjoyed a life long personal association with the local Geraldines G.F.C. as Headmaster Paddy recalls that he often had reason to be grateful to the club.
"When we were running out of space we had the use of the Geraldines Hall and still have it to this day. We once even had a class in the kitchen and the school still has the use of the football field."
Though he was an avid player of the sport himself Paddy recalls that from a young age he was often in the shadow of his older brothers who both played in the All- Ireland final of 1950.
"The biggest claim I had to fame was that I was known as Jimmy and Mickey McDonnell's brother."
Having been retired for a decade this year, Paddy still enjoys a very close relationship with St. Fursey's N.S. and has followed with interest the progress made by his successor Eoin D'Arcy in the intervening years.
"I was delighted when Eoin was chosen and he really is doing a great job. He is fortunate to have a wonderful staff, they are a terrific bunch of dedi-cated young people and it does the heart good to see the school thriving.”
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
