Máire Treasa Uí Dhalaigh (left) being extended best wishes by her successor Niamh Ui Raois, on the occasion of her retirement after 37 years service to Scoil Raifteiri, Castlebar.

Slán le Máire Treasa as principal of Scoil Raifteirí in Castlebar retires after 37 years of loyal service

Ar an 31ú lá de mhí Lúnasa, 2020 d’eirigh Máire Treasa Uí Dhalaigh as a bpost mar phríomhoide i nGaelscoil Raifteirí i gCaisleán a’ Bharraigh.

Bhí sí tofa mar phríomhoide ar an scoil i 1983 le grúpa de 13 páistí.

Bhí an scoil lonnaithe ag an tús sa seanscoil Protastúnach ar Bothar an Phalliún áit a bhfuil Leabharlann Contae Mhaigheo anois.

Is í Máire Treasa an fhórsa a threoraigh rath leanúnach Scoil Raifteirí agus faoina gcúram d’fhás an scoil ó síol beag in inchinn Gaelgoirí Caisleán a’ Bharraigh go dtí an tIonad Oideachais den scoth atá inti inniu.

Dhaignigh sí an Ghaeloideas i measc pobal Caisleán a’ Bharraigh agus seasann fhoirgneamh na scoile i lár an bhaile mór mar chruthúnas ar a saothar agus a ghrá don Ghaeilge agus don Oideachais.

Is mar gheall ar stiúradh Máire Treasa ón gcéad lá go bhfuil fás agus forbairt tagtha ar an scoil le 230 dalta ar an rolla,17 baill foirne agus fhoireann chúnta san áireamh.

Ar a lá a scor cheiliúraigh pobal Scoil Raifteirí in éineacht leí. Chuir Máire Treasa crann caorthann ar shuíomh na scoile le cabhair ón mbeirt daltá is sine sa scoil, Caoimhín agus Stiofán ó rang a sé.

Seasann an caorthann mar chomhartha ar a seirbhís agus dílseacht don scoil.

Ar an lá céanna bhailigh páistí, pobal na scoile foireann an Naíonra Tír na n-Óg in éineacht lena chlann féin timpeall uirthí sa chlós.

Cé go raibh gach duine scartha oná chéile bhíodar ar fad aontaithe ag canadh Comhghairdeahas agus Anois Teacht an Earraigh dí.

Scaoileadh balúin san aer chomh maith. Ghabh Máire Treasa buíochas le gach duine as ucht a gcuid oibre thar na blianta agus rath leanúnach na scoile.

Gúionn pobal na scoile, an fhoireann agus an Bord Bainistíochta gach dea-ghuí leí. Go maire sí a saol úr nua.

Tá comhphobal na scoile cinnte go rachaidh an scoil ó neart go neart faoi stiúr Príomhoide nua Niamh Uí Raois as Caisleán an Bharraigh.

On the 31 of August 2020, Máire Treasa Uí Dhálaigh retired from her position as principal of Scoil Raifteiri, Castlebar.

Her appointment as principal of the first Gaelscoil in Mayo in 1983 came about with the registration of 13 pupils from Castlebar and its environs.

The school was first located in the old Protestant school where Mayo County Library now stands.

Máire Treasa Uí Dhálaigh was the driving force behind Scoil Raifteirí’s success and the reason it developed from being a thought in the heads of Irish Language enthusiasts in Castlebar at that time, into the centre of educational excellence that it is today.

Her commitment to the Irish language and to education is borne out in the school building and grounds located in the centre of Castlebar, and the 230 pupils attending the school as well as the 17 staff members employed in Scoil Raifteiri today.

On the day of her retirement Máire Treasa planted a rowan tree, assisted by the two eldest pupils in the school Stiofán and Caoimhín from sixth class.

The rowan symbolises courage and wisdom and represents Máire Treasa’s service to the school.

The staff of Scoil Raifteiri, the whole school community, the staff of Naíonra Tir na n-Óg and Máire Treasa’s family all gathered around her in the school yard.

While socially distanced they sang her two favourite songs in unison - Comhghairdeachas and Anois Teacht an Earraigh accompanied by Máire Treasa herself.

The pupils and Máire Treasa then released balloons into the air in honour of the occasion.

Máire Treasa thanked everyone for their work over many years and their contribution to the success of Scoil Raifteirí.

The school community, staff and board of management wish her many years of good health and happiness.

The school community are confident that the school will continue to grow from strength to strength under the guidance of new principal Niamh Ui Raois from Castlebar.

Ni neart go cur le chéile.