By Diarmaid Doherty
THERE were tears, tributes, smiles and some wonderful stories as the school community at Scoil Cholmcille National School in Kilmacrennan gathered to say farewell to their retiring school secretary, Anne O’Donnell.
Anne, who retires after 24 years of service, was joined by family members and friends as the school staff and pupils gave her a wonderful send-off last week.
Main pic: Anne with former pupils of the school, now Leaving Certificate students at Loreto Community School, Milford.
She may have been employed as the school secretary but it’s fair to say Anne was so much more than that.
Her baking skills are legendary and the pupils and staff will miss her culinary delights which ranged from scones, pancakes, buns and treats.
As school principal John Devenney remarked, when he joined the staff he was just a slip of a young man. But thanks to a daily diet of Anne’s lovely scones, that’s no longer the case.
He said Anne was a dream secretary who took on so many more duties, organising school trips, fun-days and ensuring that school life for all the pupils was one to be enjoyed by providing a helping hand when needed.
Presentations were made to Anne by Mary Gallagher on behalf of the school’s Parents’ Association and Eileen Egan on behalf of the Board of Management.
Kathleen McGarvey and Ann Harkin, members of the Young at Heart Club, also made a special presentation.
Anne O’Donnell with Scoil Cholmcile principal John Devenney
A special memory book was also compiled for the occasion, with pupils from each of the classes writing their own tributes to Anne and thanking her for all that she has done for them over the years.
Anne’s son John said his mother had given 24 years of loyal service to the school and her retirement was an emotional day for all the family.
“I’m looking down here in front of me and I see all the familiar faces from around Kilkmacrennan who have gathered here today to pay tribute to mammy. It’s very much appreciated by ourselves as a family,” he said.
“I’d like to thank John as principal and the staff over the years who have always been very good to my mother.
“And there’s not a parent that I’ve met who haven’t but got only good things to say about my mum and how good she was to the children over the years.”
Anne with members of her family including Michelle, Siobhan, Mairead, Danny and John.
Anne thanked everyone who had helped organise the lovely tributes and said while it was a sad day to be retiring, it was a happy day too.
She said she loved working in the school and loved all the children too.
And in John Devenney, she said she couldn’t have asked for a better boss.
“Everyday we’d sit in the office and have a chat about things,” she said.
“He was always so good and kind to me, he’s almost like my adopted son.
“All the staff here at the school, we always stuck together, through thick and through thin.”
Pupils and staff at the presentation to retiring school secretary Anne O’Donnell at Scoil Cholmcille, Kilmacrennan, on Thursday.
She said she’ll miss the children, but urged them to call with her at her home to say hello, and especially at Halloween time when there will be loads of treats for everyone.
Rounding off the tributes, John Devenney said the welfare of the pupils was always in Anne’s heart and that could be seen by all that she did for the children over the years.
“She was a tireless worker who was always willing to take on any job,” he said, adding that Anne also played a special role at Communion and Confirmation time.”
Members of the local and school community at the presentation to retiring school secretary Anne O’Donnell.
Describing Anne as a gem of a secretary, John drew laughter from those gathered by scotching the rumour that she was heading to Ballyshannon to become housemaid for Fr Paddy Dunne.
The event ended with the pupils performing a song specially written by Mrs Gallagher for the occasion, the words of the chorus capturing Anne’s love of baking – “She made scones, she made tea, slán leat Anne, our secretary”.
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