Our Staff
Mrs. Darina Scally is the Principal of St. Joseph's GNS. Her training in counselling, Play Therapy and Child Protection enhances the skill set of the staff and benefits the school community as a whole. Mrs. Scally is also the DLP (Designated Liason Person) on staff in Child Protection. Mrs. Scally is very interested in developing ICT in the school. She has a great interest in music & drama and directs the school choir.
Mrs. Mary Daly, Deputy Principal, is the most senior member of staff and has built up a range of experience in all class levels. She is currently teaching Senior Infants and her pupils receive a strong emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy. Mrs. Daly has been the school co-ordinator for the Green Flag for a number of years and she still organises the very popular Walking Bus on Fridays. This year we have started the Health Promoting Schools initiative and she is spear heading this by introducing a Health Promoting schools committee which includes parental involvement. Mrs. Daly also liaises with Túsla in relation to pupil absences and monitors school attendance generally.
Mrs. Geraldine Crowley leads the promotion of Gaeilge in the school and organises a range of activities for the whole school including the St. Vincent de Paul appeal, the Christmas Shoebox appeal, the Altar Servers for Clonakilty Church, as well as the important monthly Newsletter which keeps parents up to date with developments and projects across the school. During March, the very popular 'Siopa an Bháicéara' is organised by senior classes and Mrs. Crowley in support of our Clonakilty Daffodil Day fundraising appeal. Mrs Crowley will be returning to class teaching this year in 2nd class.
Ms. Eileen O'Mahony has a special interest in sport and promotes it in the school. She has organised visiting specialist teachers for GAA, hockey, skipping for health, as well as training for Sciath na Scol and Cork City Sports. A recent addition is tag rugby for senior classes and tennis for the whole school. At the end of the year Ms. O'Mahony organises Sports Day where every child can showcase their talent. As well as sports promotion, Ms. O'Mahony liaises with the Parents Association regarding the Book Rental Scheme which provides parents with the chance to rent key texts for a fee of €25. Ms. O'Mahony is currently teaching 4th class.
Ms. Aileen O'Connor teaches our EAL classes and also has had a lot of experience in the area of Learning Support, Infant and 4th class levels. She is interested in technology integration in the classroom and is on our Ditigal Learning team this year. She has completed courses in the use of the iPad to help develop literacy and numeracy skills, and this year will be using Literacy Planet programme with EAL pupils to boost literacy skills.
Ms. Julie Harrington, is teaching Junior Infants where her skills as a talented musician will go down very well with her new pupils. Ms Harrington is a talented musician who plays guitar and flute and is always willing to lend a hand at musical events when required.
Mrs. Caroline Condon is our Resource Teacher on staff and is working with pupils who have differing educational needs. She has extensive skills and continuous professional development in SEN, including Sign Language and working with children on the Autistic Spectrum.
Mrs. Edel McCarthy will be teaching 1st class next year, having spent many years enjoying teaching our Junior Infants and 2nd class. She been responsible for our LIteracy Lift Off programme this year and is also looking forward to teaching tin whistle in the school next year!
Ms. Ethel Loughnan is currently on career break. When Ms Loughnan returns she will be our Learning Support teacher.
Ms. Marian Murphy is working with 3rd class. Ms. Murphy is a keen sportswoman, and is our leader in our application for our second Active Schools Flag this year. As well as organising an action packed Active Schools Week in May, Miss Murphy had us all "waking up and shaking up" every Wednesday and we look forward to doing it all again this year!
Mrs. Carol-Anne O' Brien is teaching 5th class this year. She brings with her a love of sport and gives freely of her time training our fifth and sixth classes in basketball after school. Her talents also lie in drama and music and these are very evident in our annual Christmas Show.
Ms Sarah Geaney is teaching our 6th class group. She has gained valuable experience in the past teaching in the second level system and has used that experience to prepare our 6th class group for the transition into secondary school. Ms Geaney has a love of Gaeilge and is also on our Digital Learning team within the school.
Mrs. Elma McCarthy is our full-time Special Needs Assistant. She helps several of our pupils in the management of their school day and some medical conditions. Currently Mrs. McCathy is primarily assigned to 5th class and enjoys sharing her skills in drama and language development with the younger pupils. She has also completed training in relation to iPad use in the education sector and First Aid.
Mr. Declan McCarthy is our school secretary and is contactable each day until 2 p.m., if you want to leave messages with staff or find out information about us. Please go to Declan if you need any forms signed (e.g. Dept. of Social Protection) on behalf of pupils and he will arrange for this to be done within 24 hours.
Former staff: Many staff down through the years have contributed to making St. Joseph's what it is today and we would like to acknowledge their input. Recent Principals such as Mrs. Kathleen Ryan, Mrs. Una Fleming and teachers , Mrs. Anne Loughnan and Ms. Jacinta Darragh, still assist the school with their expertise. Other staff have moved elsewhere but have left their valuable mark in the school.
A special thanks is owed to the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, who established a girls school in Clonakilty in 1856 and relocated it to our current site in 1966/7. Many parents and grandparents of our current pupils will remember the sisters fondly and we especially remember Sr. Laurenza Ní Cheallaigh, the last teaching sister who retired in 2009.
