'I never see being principal as a stressful job, I see it as a privilege'

Departing Coláiste Mhuire principal Malachy Flanagan says that he would not be leaving Mullingar for any school other than St Mel’s in Longford.

The popular head teacher is leaving to take up the role of principal at St Mel’s College in Longford. Malachy has worked at CBS for 15 years, six of them as principal and before that, a year as deputy principal.

A native of Kilmaine in south Mayo, Malachy began his teaching career in the UK before returning to St Mel’s, where he taught for four years. There is a sense of completing the full circle, he remarked. He will be starting back in St Mel’s as his eldest son, Jonah begins first year there.

Malachy’s family ran a shop and undertakers in Kilmaine from 1951 until last Christmas Eve, so he grew up in the heart of a rural community. He, his wife, Elizabeth, who is Welsh, and their sons (Jonah, Oran and Brion) are still at the heart of the community in Killoe, Longford, where they have lived for 20 years. Malachy trains the local GAA Club, Emmet Og and the Gaelic football team at CBS. He is also involved in organising the Hype Festival for young people in Longford next weekend.

Malachy says: “I never see being principal as a stressful job. I see it as a privilege to be working with young men, seeing them grow and develop and the amazing impact we can have as teachers,” he said. “If you have a sick child or you are living in or fleeing from the Ukraine, that’s stress.”

He never judges pupils on their academic ability as they are so much more, and that was the theme of the graduation Mass on Thursday last. Results do not define a student and if they are kind and have empathy and compassion “they will fly it in life,” he believes.

Looking back on his time in CBS, Malachy says that he could not have done it without the huge support of his wife and the staff, board of management and parents.

Coláiste Mhuire has 800 pupils and about 60 staff. “Everything the staff do is about the boys. We have a very special school run in a calm manner, all built on positive relationships with no ego or status. We run the school with the co-operation and goodwill of the boys, it’s their school,” he said.

Hanging on the wall of his office is a quote from Mia Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” and that is Malachy Flanagan’s motto. “Do everything in a kind and respectful way,” he advises.

Malachy paid tribute to Joe O’Meara, his predecessor, who “set the tone and philosophy for the school over his 20 odd years as principal”.

“The school is very pupil-orientated and built on the foundations of kindness and respect and that is the tone Joe set. I just took over the torch and now I will pass it on.”

He thanked the people of Mullingar for accepting and supporting him and the school. He thanked Sean Lynch and Mullingar Arts Centre, with which the school developed links during his tenure, providing the opportunity for students to “thrive on stage”.

Malachy also spoke of the close links the school has with Cathedral House and in particular Bishop Tom Deenihan, who “epitomises the ethos of being humble and making the school about the boys”.

Bishop Deenihan recently travelled with pupils to Knock, where he celebrated Mass with them and he celebrated the graduation Mass last week. This link, Malachy remarked, connects with the children and their families, those of all faith and no faith. “They can see him and connect with him and that makes things more open and warm and that is what the school is about.”

He also paid tribute to retired principal of Loreto College, Mullingar, Marese Bell, “who was amazingly supportive to me and continues to be”, adding, “there is a fantastic connection between both schools and I hope it continues”.

Malachy remains at Coláiste Mhuire for the summer, taking up his new role at St Mel’s on September 1. He stressed that he would not be leaving Mullingar for any school other than St Mel’s and he wishes CBS every success in the future.