Past pupil is back in Loreto College as new principal

Redhills native and past pupil of Loreto College Cavan, Angela McGarvey, is the newly appointed principal of the school, taking over from Margaret Donagh who is retiring. "I loved it when I was here and I'm delighted to be back as principal in my Alma Mater," said Ms. McGarvey, who lives in Kells with her husband, John Daly, a teacher in Eureka Secondary School. Ms McGarvey worked in Kells Community School as teacher and assistant principal before being secunded to Drumcondra Educational Centre, where she was responsible for organising professional development for teachers. In 2008 she became principal of Loreto College, Mullingar, overseeing the ongoing development of a €4.7m extension. Ms McGarvey believes the most important advice she could give teenage girls is "to be themselves". "We train young women to be assertive here in Loreto College Cavan. I would also advise them to listen to the advice their being given in school, not to be too influenced by media and social networking sites, to knuckle down and work hard," says the principal. Asked what are the biggest challenges they face these days, Ms McGarvey cites peer pressure and the media. "Young women feel pressure to dress and behave differently from the way they feel they should," she points out. Asked what changes she would like to see made to our educational system, Ms McGarvey said she feels the curriculum meets the needs of most students but she would like to see less cutbacks. "I think it would be a disaster if they cut the pupil teacher ratio because teachers are the biggest resource we have in education. There was also a report that transition year may be cut, which would be disastrous also. We can't afford to have any more cuts imposed on us. I think teachers work very hard and schools manage very well with limited resources. I think we have a great product and we have a huge success story to tell in Cavan and in other post-primary schools around the country and we need to be able to get on with it." Ms McGarvey thanked her predecessor and wished her well. "I owe a debt of gratitude to Margaret Donagh for leaving such a fine-run establishment behind her and I wish her all the best in whatever she pursues in her retirement."