Miriam Marsh.

It is a wonderful privilege to work with young people - they are a joy and delight."That's how the new principal of Loreto St Michael's Secondary School in Navan talks about her new role.

A new era has begun for St Michael's this September as Miriam Marsh takes on the role of principal, following the retirement of Sr Elaine Troy, who had been at the helm of the all-girls' school for the past 25 years.

Ms Marsh is making history as the first lay principal of St Michael's, which has been educating young Navan women since 1904. She comes to Navan, having been principal at St Declan's College, Dublin, an all-boys school, and sees it as a tremendous privilege and honour to have been appointed the first lay principal at St Michael's.

"I am very excited at the prospect of continuing the Loreto tradition and ensuring the girls get a holistic education which encourages each girl to strive to achieve her own individual personal best," she says.

"In Loreto, we want the girls to leave the school with an all-round education, with a way of life which is rooted in the Loreto philosophy - girls who have the self-confidence to realise the worth of their own individual talents. Our aim is that they become fully participating members of society with an emphasis on being agents for social justice."

The school is held in high esteem in the area and the new principal hopes it will continue to enjoy its fine reputation.

There are no Loreto sisters on the teaching staff any more, but the community of nuns still lives beside the school and the link remains.

"Sr Gabrielle is here this week, doing peer mediation and prefect training," she points out.

To read the full story see this week's Meath Chronicle.