Reading and golf at top of retiring principal's list

Fitting in a bit more reading and improving his golf is top of retiring principal of Scoil Eoin Phoil Gerry Walsh's post-retirement list. A laughing Mr Walsh spoke to the Offaly Independent this week, in advance of a celebration party being thrown in his honour tomorrow (Saturday) night. From Mayo originally, Mr Walsh almost qualifies as an Offaly man at this stage, having taught in Tullamore for his entire career. He arrived in the town to a teaching post at Scoil Bhride. In 1980 he moved to Scoil Eoin Phoil as Assistant Principal, and it was here he stayed until he stepped down at the end of this school year. A principal for 24 years, Mr Walsh decided earlier this year "it was time for somebody else to take over". That somebody else is Simon Byrne, who has been working in the school since 1999. Looking back over his teaching time, Mr Walsh says he really enjoyed the interaction with people, both parents and children. The main thing he's learned he says is that it's not necessarily everything you say that students take in. "It's how you treat them," he says. "The good things you do for them, that's what they remember." Retiring, Mr Walsh looks back with pride on both academic and sporting greatness his students went on to achieve, not least the All-Stars past pupils Kevin Martin and Cathal Daly got. Ahead of his retirement party, which he says he hasn't been allowed know anything about, he thanked the Board of Management and Parent Associations at Scoil Eoin Phoil, as well as the support of the local community in Arden View.