Glowing tributes to principal of Coola PPS who retires after 25 years
The Sligo ChampionWarm tributes were paid to Damien McGoldrick at the December meeting of Sligo County Council as Councillors acknowledged the significant contribution made by Mr McGoldrick during his 25 years as principal of Coola PPS.
The tributes were led by Cllr Thomas Walsh who acknowledged the impact Mr McGoldrick made to the school community. “He has overseen its upgrade and huge progress in terms of growth from 200 students to 550/600 students. He has overseen leaving cert and junior cert results at an all time high, maximum results in the school have increased year on year and students have progressed extremely well. The school’s name is very good and he has left the school with a capital project in place in terms of 22 additional rooms.”
Cllr Walsh added, “He has overseen many football teams to Connacht and All-Ireland titles. He has progressed the school in every single way and I want to wish Damien and his wife Irene and family the very best in his retirement having served 25 years as principal.”
Cllr Walsh recalled that he was under the wing of Mr McGoldrick for a brief period saying, “He taught me for a short time while I was in Coola and I want to wish Damien and his family well.”
Echoing those sentiments, Cllr Gerard Mullaney also paid tribute when he joked, “Cllr Walsh is one of the examples of the real success of Damien as a brilliant teacher!”
Continuing his tribute Cllr Mullaney said, “I want to wish Damien and his family well. I was on the Parents Council for eight years and the amount of success and the amount of development at all levels that took place in that school under Damien’s stewardship is amazing. It is now a huge school. It is a hard act to follow and I wish the person that replaces him all the best.”
Cllr Marie Casserly drew on personal experience when she commented, “He’s an absolutely superb principal. I was teaching there for a very short space of time when Bríd Martin was retiring and Damien was taking over. He has done absolutely fantastic work over the years and the school has a really good reputation.”
Cllr Arthur Gibbons referred to his time on the school’s Board of Management when he paid tribute to Mr McGoldrick. “I want to wish Damien and his wife and family the happiest of retirements. Damien is a very impressive guy. I have been on the Board of Management since I was voted onto the Council and it is a school I am so very much impressed with. The added bonus for me is that my grandkids will be in that school."
Cllr Gibbons continued, “It was a school I knew nothing about until I went onto the Board of Management. The man is so impressive, he just does not stop, he wants to go that further inch the whole time. He was a great captain at the helm and I want to wish him the best of luck in his retirement.”
Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.