On June 30th last, Mairead O’Callaghan completed her last day of teaching in Glenville National School having taught there for 40 years. She was given an emotional send off by the children, staff and parents of Glenville and it was obvious that she was held in the highest esteem by all.
This of course does not tell the whole story of a person who has devoted her time to the playing and promotion of Gaelic Games in Watergrasshill, Glenville, Cork and throughout the country. She was a star camogie player for Watergrasshill GAA and in 1982 was a member of the team that won the All Ireland Camogie Club Championship. It is no surprise that Máiréad had such a strong interest in Gaelic games having come under the early tutelage of the legendary Eamonn Ryan who taught in Watergrasshill NS. Her school, Glenville NS, was one of the first schools to play boys and girls on the same teams, with great success, in an era when it was a boys only domain!
Máiréad immersed herself in the activities of Sciath na Scol and a few short years later took up the role of secretary as the only female officer among all the males. She was and is, an administrator second to none! Sciath na Scol thrived and developed under her stewardship and it is hardly surprising that she has held positions at Provincial and National Cumann na mBunscol level. Currently Máiréad is President of Cumann na mBunscol Náisiúnta. Here’s to many more fruitful years; retired but not gone! Beir Bua.
