Principal of Glenhest’s two-teacher school retires after 46 years

Margaret McNeela, Parents Council, makes a presentation to Principal Sean O’Cionfhaola on his retirement at Cloondaff NS, Glenhest.

End of an era in Glenhest


SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola retires after 46 years as principal of Cloondaff NS.

Edwin McGreal

It is often said a lifetime can pass by in the blink of an eye. SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola readily admits it is hard to believe that 46 years have passed since he first entered the doors of Cloondaff NS in Glenhest.
He went there as a 19-year-old straight out of St Patrick’s in Drumcondra and, not uncommon at the time, was principal from the get-go.
Last Thursday was the final day of school term for the school in the valley below the Nephin Beg range, and it was the last day teaching for a man almost as much a part of the surroundings down there as the mountains and Beltra Lake.
The Department of Education has been canvassed to see if SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola is the longest-serving principal in the country. No answer has been apparent just yet but it is unlikely that such a lengthy term will be bettered, especially with the compulsory retirement age of 65 for teachers.
But numbers only paint a part of the picture. SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola was more than just a school principal in Glenhest. He immersed himself in the community to the extent that he became a huge part of it. Though he has lived in Ballyheane, Castlebar, all his life, Glenhest holds a special tie for him.
“I’ll miss the school because it was a huge part of my life. It is going to be a huge void, I just haven’t realised that yet. Talk to me at the beginning of September when a school year is starting, and I won’t be there and I’m sure it will have hit home then,” he told The Mayo News.

Community man
Although he will remain on as principal until August, to see out the official school year, he knows that the de-facto end was last Thursday, with the last day of school before the summer holidays. A Mass in his honour took place on the school grounds and a number of presentations were made to him by a grateful community. But the cut won’t be total either. Cold turkey isn’t an option, and SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola will remain involved in community activities.
“I cannot praise too highly the people of the Glen’ after 46 years working here for the support they’ve given me. It was here I grew up in one sense, coming here at 19. It has been a wonderful 46 years and I hope to still keep my involvement with regard to the Water Scheme and Community Council,” he admitted.

Glorious Glenhest
It is easy to see the attraction to Glenhest. The drive west from Castlebar, through Glenisland is a charming one, with the wonderful scenery on both sides of the road. SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola is still yet amazed by it.
“You’d feel that once you turn at Beltra crossroads and come into the Glenhest area or come from Newport and hit out on the Crossmolina road that you are hitting into some special area. With the lakes on one side and the mountains surrounding it, it is easy to see why it got its name ‘Glorious Glenhest’. It has the most wonderful scenery and is the most wonderful place. I was always proud too of the fact that we were fairly independent, we had our own things, our own water scheme, our own football pitch, our own hall, own school, church and all of these kind of things. We’re very proud of the fact that with less than 200 people we still have so many facilities.”

Rural schools threatened
SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola admits much has changed over the years. The curriculum is much more varied now; it is harder to grab the attention of children but the school itself has improved immensely in recent years in terms of facilities. Yet the area of Glenhest has changed little and the school is at the heart of the rural village. With much talk about rationalisation, two-teacher schools like Cloondaff NS are under threat. SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola’s feelings on the issue are clear.
“When I started here, we had 50 pupils. It has been dropping ever since. Today we have 24 pupils but it will drop further. In time, we hope it will gradually start to increase. It all depends on the policy of the Minister [for Education, Ruairí Quinn], but without the school in Glenhest it would be a different area, it would have no focus. If the school was to go, it would tear at the heart of Glenhest.”
SeΡn Ó Cionfhaola ranks the renovation of the school in 2000 and the addition of a kitchen/staff room and a learning-support room only this year as the highlights of his time there. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will be arriving at the school at 1pm this Friday to officially open the extension.
Looking back, the outgoing principal recalls countless board-of-management members, priests who served in the area and former teachers who he worked with in the past, including  Pearl Coyne, Alice Lally and Karen Hennelly. Catriona Cawley is now there while Claire Molloy is the learning support teacher. Deirdre Nevin from Newport will take over the position of principal. 
SeΡn plans to keep up his farming and devote more time to his passion for the Irish language. But he will never fully leave Glenhest. It is unlikely Glenhest will ever leave him either.