St. Conleth's College 75 Year Quinquennial 2014

16
STAFF
TRIBUTES
We must acknowledge the departure from St. Conleth’s in recent years of those
members of staff who did not retire but chose to move in a different career
direction. Each of these was so influential in the life of the school in their own
way and has been missed dearly by fellow staff and students alike.
DR. GARRET CAMPBELL taught Science, Physics and Maths at St. Conleth’s
and was Transition Year Co-ordinator for several years. He was immensely
popular with his students, due to both his personality and his ability to push
them to the highest of results. The staff miss his wicked sense of humour and
impeccable impersonations, which always lit up the staffroom just when it was
needed. Garret started the tradition of worldwide student expeditions at
St. Conleth’s, memorably leading intrepid groups to Peru and Mongolia, and his
new career is in a related field, the director of Global Schoolroom, a NGO which
trains teachers in India.
JIM SMYTH, teacher of French and media star in his own right, was often
Garret’s partner-in-crime regarding hijinks amongst both the staff and students.
Jim is a bundle of good-natured energy and though we doubt the Midlands will
be able to contain him for long, that is where he is now teaching and bringing
the same humour, affection and general bonhomie which we enjoyed here at
St. Conleth’s.
PIIA ROSSI was the single person most responsible for the renaissance of art at
St. Conleth’s. From her very start at St. Conleth’s, Piia taught both Junior and
Senior students with such skill and passion that art quickly forced its way into
the heart of our curriculum, and school life in general. She was able to convey
both technique and discipline to her pupils, and now continues to work as an
inspiring artist in her own right, dividing her time between Germany, Slovakia,
Finland and Ireland.
GERRY DUNNE was the popular, good-looking, young teacher at St. Conleth’s
for several years and somehow was able to take his leave, still being the popular,
good-looking young teacher! Gerry taught Religion and English and organised
Masses, retreats and much of the spiritual life of the students. The pupils miss
him greatly and still regularly ask when he will return from his further studies in
Education and Philosophy at Trinity College. His colleagues miss his impromptu
staffroom massages, warmth and affection and, of course, his stupendous goalscoring
record in the Staff/Sixth Year football matches!
Dr. Garret Campbell receiving a Piia Rossi painting
from Mr. Kelleher and Ann Sheppard
ST. CONLETH'S COLLEGE 1939 - 2014