A Chairde,
Tá nuacht agam le roinnt libh, sé sin go mbeidh mé ag fagáil Gaelcholáiste na Mara ag deireadh na scoilbliana seo chun ról nua a thosú i Loch Garman áit go bhfuilim tar éis glacadh le post mar Phríomhoide i Meánscoil in Inis Córthaidh. Tá fachtóirí áirithe ag baint leis an gcinneadh tógtha agam imeacht ach an fachtóir is mó ná go mbeidh mé ag obair i bhfad nios congaraí go baile agus tabharfaidh sé sin níos mó ama dom le caitheamh le mo chlann óg. Táim ag obair i nGaelcholáiste na Mara ó 2009, ar dtús mar mhúinteoir ó 2009-2016 agus mar Phríomhoide ó 2016. Is pribhléid agus onóir a bhí ann sciar suntasach do mo shaol a chaitheamh ag obair san Inbhear Mór agus tá cairde saol déanta agam sa tréimhse sin. Tá foireann dilis agus tiománta i GCM agus tá todhchaí na scoile slán faoi stiúir na múinteoirí díograiseacha agus paiseanta atá anseo.
Aireoidh mé uaim go mór na scoláirí, tá an-mheas agus cion agam orthu agus is iad an seoid is luachmhaire i gconaí i GCM. Tá pearsantacht, intléacht, muinín agus spraoi fite fuaite tríd pobal na scoláirí i GCM agus tá timpeallacht álainn agus uathúil i bPáirc na bPiarsach dá bharr. Beidh deis agam idir seo agus deireadh na bliana mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le múinteoirí, daltaí agus tuismitheoirí na scoile don tacaíocht , profisiúntacht agus comhluadar roinnte liom le sé bliana déag anuas. Seachas sin beidh fócas dírithe agam ar phleanáil don bhliain seo chugainn chun cinntiú go bhfuil cúrsaí eagraithe don té a thógann ról an Phríomhoide ó 2025/26 ar aghaidh.
Tosóidh Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Cill Dara/Cill Mhantáin próiseas earaíochta chun Príomhoide nua a cheaptha sna seachtainí amach romhainn.
A Chairde,
I want to share the news with you that I will be leaving Gaelcholáiste na Mara at the end of this school year to take up a new role in Wexford where I have in very recent days been appointed to the position of Principal of a secondary school in Enniscorthy. There are various factors behind my decision to transfer, but the main reason is that the new role will be much closer to home and will allow me to spend more time with my young family.
I have been working in Gaelcholáiste na Mara since 2009 — first as a teacher from 2009 to 2016, and then as Principal since 2016. It has been a privilege and an honour to spend a significant part of my life working in Arklow, and I have made lifelong friends during that time. There is a loyal and dedicated team in GCM, and the school’s future is secure under the guidance of the passionate and enthusiastic teachers here.
I will greatly miss the students — for whom I have the upmost respect and fondness for, for me they have always been the jewel in the crown of GCM. Personality, intelligence, confidence, and fun are woven throughout the student community in GCM, creating an extremely pleasant and unique environment in Páirc na bPiarsach.
Between now and the end of the school year, I will have the opportunity to express my gratitude to the teachers, students, and parents of the school for the support, professionalism, and companionship shared with me over the past sixteen years. Beyond that, I will focus on planning for the upcoming school year to ensure everything is in place for whoever takes on the role of Principal from 2025/26 onward. The Kildare/ Wicklow Education and Training Board will begin the recruitment process for a new Principal in the coming weeks.
Le gach deá-ghuí i gconaí,
Tony Ó Murchú
Príomhoide