School term has ended for Primary Schools.  In Cork, Cloyne and Ross, following cumulative service of over 160 years, four primary school principals are retiring:  Sinead Solleveld (South Abbey National School, Youghal),  Harriet Pritchard (Bandonbridge National School), Sharon Hosford (The Model School, Dunmanway), and Heather Smith (Adair National School, Fermoy).

In recent weeks, the Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton, visited each of those schools and, at gatherings of pupils and teachers, staff and chairpersons, thanked each of the principals for their faithful work and for making each of the schools even better places of learning for the children.

On behalf of everyone in the Diocese and the Diocesan Board of Education, the Bishop thanked each retiring principal and presented each one with a retirement gift of a limited edition print of a representation of the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross which he had commissioned from the renowned artist Annie West.   It shows the Diocese as ‘people and place’ he explained to the children.

With the Reverend Andrew Orr in Youghal Union, the Bishop made a presentation to Sinead Solleveld, South Abbey National School, Youghal.

The Bishop made a presentation to Harriet Pritchard, Bandonbridge National School.

With the Reverend Cliff Jeffers in Fanlobbus Union, the Bishop made a presentation to Sharon Hosford, The Model School, Dunmanway. The children had also made prayer ‘leaves’ (written prayers for people who have asked to pray for them), to bring to the prayer tree at the Chapel of Christ the Healer, Cork University Hospital.

The Bishop made a presentation to Heather Smith, Adair National School, Fermoy.

Information about the limited edition Annie West print is available HERE.