PICTURE: 17 ETB staff honoured for their service to Tipperary education

Tipperary Education and Training Board honoured 17 of its former staff members at its annual 2025 Retired Staff Presentation at the Anner Hotel in Thurles last Friday, 14 November.

Each of the retirees attending were presented with a Tipperary Crystal vase and were read a citation to mark their achievements in the education sector. They were joined by family and friends at the presentation.

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Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Clodagh Kelly, welcomed attendees to Thurles, and said that what these staff have given to students and learners “can’t be measured in years of service, lesson plans delivered, or reports written.”

“It’s measured in the lives you’ve touched, the moments you’ve created, and the doors you’ve opened for students and learners who didn’t even know these doors existed,” she stated.

She thanked them for their professionalism and commitment to the ETB’s core values of Excellence, Equality, Respect, Care and Community during their education careers.

Chairperson of Tipperary ETB, Cllr Roger Kennedy, also thanked each of the retirees for their help in delivering outstanding educational provision to people of all ages across the county.

“Ireland’s skilled workforce has only established itself due to the diligent hard work of staff in each corner of the country, including you in your schools, Further Education centres, administrative offices and elsewhere. Thank you for your lifelong commitment to the education sector,” said Cllr Kennedy.

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Tipperary ETB is patron of three primary schools and 10 post-primary schools, as well as providing Further Education and Training (FET) courses from over 20 Tipperary FET College centres across the county. Tipperary ETB also delivers a range of additional education services in community settings.

The list of Tipperary ETB retired staff members honoured on the night is as follows:

- Fiona Barry, Teacher, Tipperary FET College (Thurles),

- Marian Browne, Tutor, Tipperary FET College,

- Lucy Butler, Assistant Staff Officer, Scoil Ruáin (Killenaule),

- Mary Coffey, Special Needs Assistant, Nenagh College,

- Mary Corkery, Tutor, Tipperary FET College (Thurles),

- Eleanor Coyne, Assistant Staff Officer, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh (Cahir),

- Paddy Franey, Caretaker, CTI Clonmel,

- Martin Franks, Caretaker, Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré,

- Deirdre Gavin, Teacher, Nenagh Community National School,

- Margaret Hynes, Teacher, Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré,

- Seán Landers, Teacher, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh,

- Kathleen Madden, Special Needs Assistant, Nenagh Community National School,

- Kaye Mullaney, Adult Education Officer, Tipperary FET College,

- Shelagh Murphy, Tutor, Tipperary FET College,

- Breda O’Connor, Cleaner, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh,

- Fachtna Roe, Teacher, Tipperary FET College (Templemore),

- Breda Ryan, Tutor, Tipperary FET College.

Pictured at the Tipperary ETB Retired Staff Presentation at the Anner Hotel Thurles.

Back (L to R): Colin Cummins, Tipperary ETB Director of FET; Clodagh Kelly, Tipperary ETB Chief Executive; Shelagh Murphy, Tipperary FET College; Martin Franks, Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré; Eleanor Coyne, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh; Seán Landers, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh; John McCarthy, Tipperary ETB Director of Schools; Liam McGrath, Tipperary ETB Director of OSD.

Front (L to R): Lucy Butler, Scoil Ruáin; Margaret Hynes, Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré; Cllr Roger Kennedy, Tipperary ETB Chairperson, Kathleen Madden, Nenagh CNS; Deirdre Gavin, Nenagh CNS.

Photo: Odhran Ducie.