On Friday 5th February, Minister of Education for Northern Ireland, John O'Dowd dropped in to St. Colman's Bann Primary School to congratulate the Principal and Staff on the results of their recent Inspection. As a past pupil of St. Colman's Bann, John is always welcome and it was nice to hear him say he always logs on to www.tullylish.com to keep up with the news from the parish of his birth.

Before he left the school, he said:
"I just want to say a few words before I leave. Congratulations to Mrs. Neeson and those who are working and teaching in the school and the hard work of the Board of Governors. It’s a deserved recognition You should sing it from the roof tops because it’s only on the very odd occasion that 'outstanding’ is handed out to any school.

You deserve it richly and the only reason I am here today is because Mrs. Neeson and others invited me and obviously because it is my old school, but I just wanted to come along and congratulate you personally and acknowledge the hard work. Well done.

Back Row L-R
Sorcha Lyness (Friends of St. Colman's), Gerard Agnew and Maria McCartan (Board of Governors), John O'Dowd (Minister of Education),
Mrs. Margaret Neeson (Principal) Gary Byrne (Chair of Board of Governors), Shauna Corbett (Board of Governors)

Read the full report here:
 

John reminiscing at the "Province Board" about how his younger brother took credit for his work when he was a pupil at Bann P.S.

The staff of St. Colman's Bann P.S. with Gary Byrne (Chair of the Board of Governors) and Fr. Powell, School Chaplain and Member of the Board of Governors.

Back Row L-R
Mrs. Poland, Mrs. McConville, Mrs. McMeekin, Miss McGrath, Mrs. Reavey, Miss Byrne, Mrs. St. Clair, Miss Hoy
Mrs. Hendron, John O'Dowd, Mrs. Neeson, Fr. Powell

John O'Dowd with Mrs. Neeson and the Board of Governors

The "Friends of St. Colman's Bann"

"Sing it from the roof tops..."

John visited and spoke with the children in their classrooms

John was amazed to hear that the children were learning Italian!

The visitors enjoyed a lovely cuppa and delicious scones

The Minister's companion enjoying a cuppa and a scone

It would be difficult to click these heels together for 'Oz'!