Donal Cahir, newly appointed Principal of St. Flannan’s College pictured with Bishop of Killaloe and Patron of St. Flannan’s College, Fintan Monahan and Chair of the Board of St. Flannan’s College, Leonard Cleary. Photograph: Eamon Ward.
ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE have confirmed the appointment of Donal Cahir as the new principal of the Ennis secondary school.
Kilnamona native Donal has served as acting principal since August following the retirement of Fr Ignatius McCormack. He makes the step up from deputy principal, a role he has held since 2017.
Cahir joined the staff of St Flannan’s College in 1999 teaching construction studies and technical graphics. He is married to Jean McCabe, the owner of Willow boutique in Ennis and the CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland, they have two children.
On his appointment as principal, Donal said, “It is a great privilege and honour to lead a school that has been such a central part of my life for the past 27 years. Having served as Deputy Principal for the past eight years, I have greatly valued working as part of the senior management team and look forward to building on that experience in this role”.
He added, “St. Flannan’s College has a proud history dating back to the mid-19th century, with a rich heritage and a strong Catholic ethos that underpins everything we do,” added Mr. Cahir. “As Principal, I am committed to honouring and safeguarding that tradition, while also guiding the school’s continued development as a modern, forward-looking centre of learning for the future”.
Bishop of Killaloe and Patron of St. Flannan’s College, Fintan Monahan said he was “absolutely delighted” with the appointment. “His long association with the school has given him a deep knowledge of its traditions, ethos and values, and he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the interests of the school community. Donal’s dedication to students and staff alike, together with his experience and understanding of St. Flannan’s College, will stand him in excellent stead as he takes on this important role”.
Leonard Cleary, Chairperson of the St. Flannan’s College Board of Management, offered his congratulations. “This is a particularly exciting time for the school, with a range of important developments underway, and it is also a significant period for education nationally.”
Cleary also paid tribute to the outgoing and retiring Principal Fr. Ignatius McCormack. “Having given many years of dedicated service to St. Flannan’s College as both a teacher and Principal, I want to thank Fr. Ignatius sincerely for his outstanding leadership over the past eight years and for his deep commitment to the school community.”
St. Flannan’s College, which takes its name from the 7th-century patron saint of the Dál gCais, can trace its origins back to Springfield House in 1846, before it relocated to the current school 30 years later. The school underwent a significant expansion during the 1960s and again in 2003, with the development of a new wing featuring extensive new facilities. Co-educational classes were introduced in 2002.
Mr. Cahir’s appointment comes at a significant moment in the ongoing development of the school. The first phase of a significant expansion of the historic campus was opened in September. Once fully completed, the 2,500 sq m development will comprise special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. The expansion is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland.
Away from the classroom, Donal was heavily involved with hurling teams for St Flannan’s College at all levels. He lined out with Kilnamona prior to their amalgamation with neighbouring Inagh and was midfield on their team which won the Senior B title in 2001, captained by two-time All-Ireland winner Fergal Hegarty. Donal was manager of the first Inagh/Kilnamona team to win the U21A championship in 2007.
