Tributes paid to retiring St Conleth's, Newbridge staff
Jo Doyle and Christy Ivors Retiring after 29 Years Service at St Conleths CC Photo Jimmy Fullam
TRIBUTES were paid to three popular staff members of St Conleth’s Community College in Newbridge who have recently retired.
The college celebrated the retirement of three staff, Jo Doyle, Therese Whelan and Christy Ivers at a special function in the Keadeen Hotel.
The trop have been part and parcel of the school for a number of years and each in their own way contributed to the St Conleth’s.
Principal Patricia O'Brien paid tribute to the popular staff members and their impact on the school.
Therese Whelan started in November 2016 on a part time basis, working between St Conleth’s and Kildare Town Adult Education Centre bringing her experience from her time in Leinster Senior College and the Further Education centre. She worked in both the old school Office and in the new building getting both the PLC (Post Leaving Cert) Accounts & Student systems established.
Therese came on board full-time in 2019 and the structures she put in place as well as the introduction of the MIT system streamlined the onerous administration around PLC recording & Reporting.
Christy Ivers started as caretaker in St Conleth’s Community College in September of 2016. He had a long history with the school being a past pupil himself and having sent his children there also. The quiet way he went about doing every task asked of him and the experience he had from his site manager days was fantastic in the old buildings but even more so when the school moved into the new extension.
Christy’s knowledge, expertise and good old-fashioned Mister Fix It ways were all you needed in a busy school along with a great sense of humour.
Ms O'Brien said: “I can honestly say that no day went by without hearing laughter from the caretaker’s office. He would always say its not the work that your doing but the people your working with that keep you happy in your job.”
Last but by no means least was Jo Doyle who started in St Conleth’s in September 1995 back in the days when you always started on the 1 September. A teacher of French & German who came to the school from a post in Tipperary, coming back to her home town of Newbridge. Halfway through her time in St Conleth’s Jo decided to go back studying and became a guidance counsellor.
A busy post she held down by herself until 2016 when additional guidance hours were granted to the school. Jo was part of every foreign trip due to her language skills and got to know the students really well as they did her. She was a great character in the staff room and her quick wit and dramatic skills enlivened many a lunchtime or afterschool cuppa.
Her support to the students and staff in the school over the years will long be remembered.
