Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn mark retirement of Gearóidín Ní Mhairtín
Image 1 of 3
The pupils formed a guard of honour to say goodbye to Gearóidín.Image 2 of 3
A tree was planted in honour of Gearóidìn’s service, outside the classroom where she worked.Image 3 of 3
Múinteoir Gearóidín Ní Mhairtín with colleagues (back), Múinteoirí Dara, Ger, Rúnaí Annie, Emma, Fiona, Síle, Denise, SNA Mary, Stacey; (front) Múinteoirí Ann, Bríd, Esther, Gearóidín, Sorcha, Rachel, Siobhán, SNA Annette.Shane King
Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn marked the retirement of one of their long-serving teachers recently.
Múinteoir Gearóidín Ní Mhairtín retired following 24 years of teaching in the Mullingar school on the Ashe road.
Gearóidín was a valued member of staff who primarily taught the senior classes of fourth, fifth and sixth in recent years.
Ms Ní Mhairtín qualified from St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra in 1988 following her studies in primary school teaching.
She then spent time working in Athboy and in Clondalkin before returning home to Mullingar in April 2000, when she took up her post as a múinteoir in Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, and hasn’t looked back since.
Gearóidín is a native of Mullingar and is married to Danny Mulvihill, who is also a teacher.
He is the current principal of Loughnavalley National School. They have four children, Ailbhe, Odhran, Donal and Aoileann, and they all contributed to the retirement Mass for their mother.
The now retired teacher contributed hugely to sport in the school, in particular athletics. She was a big fan of table quizzes also and helped prepare many teams for the credit union quiz.
Earlier this year, the quiz team she mentored won first place in the North Midlands Credit Union quiz and went on to do well in the regional stages too.
School principal Bríd de Bhial spoke highly of múinteoir Gearóidín, saying she has spent “36 fantastic years in the teaching profession” and has earned a well deserved break.
“Gearóidín was a very valued member of staff and we are going to really miss her. She loves traveling and is thrilled to be heading off in her campervan.
“I’m sure every corner of the country will be covered in this camper van now that she has the spare time,” she said.
The school community organised a series of events to celebrate and acknowledge Gearóidín’s time as a teacher.
On June 20 a Mass was held in the school, with her family and friends in attendance, to acknowledge her work there. Refreshments and a slice of cake were enjoyed following the event.
On one of Gearóidín’s final days, the students lined up to form a guard of honour. Each class presented a memory book and good luck cards to her.
A tree was also planted in her honour outside the classroom window in which she taught. “Although we are very sorry to see her go, we are excited for the beginning of this new chapter in her life,” principal de Bhial concluded.