Tributes to popular Kilbeg NS principal

The Kilbeg and Carlanstown communities turned out in force on Friday night for a Mass and function to mark the retirement of Kilbeg NS principal Maureen Fanning after 37 years in the school. Ms Fanning, from Baile Ghib, joined Kilbeg NS as a teacher in 1975 and became principal in 1992. Mass was celebrated in Kilbeg Church by Fr Seamus Houlihan on Friday evening and this was followed by a function in St Michael's GAA Centre where hundreds of wellwishers turned up to wish Ms Fanning well in her retirement. Traditional Irish group Coscán entertained the crowd and food was supplied by Mace in Carlanstown. Local woman Catherine Reilly baked two cakes, one of which was in the shape of the school - even including the piers, gates and lawns! The other was in the shape of a book with Bearla on one page and Gaeilge on the other, signifying Ms Fanning's love for the Irish language. In his speech, Adrian O'Donnell, chairperson of the organising committee, said the turn-out on the evening was a token of the affection and high esteem in which Ms Fanning is held by members of the community. He said she was never just a principal of the school but was an ambassador for Kilbeg National School and would always be an ambassador for the parish. Mr O'Donnell thanked members of the community and the parents' association for coming together and helping make the night such a success. A presentation was made to Ms Fanning by the organising committee of flights to Australia, and some Australian dollars for luck. St Michael's GFC and Carlanstown/Kilbeg Community Games also made presentations to Ms Fanning and a presentation was made by the Over-60s Youth Club by Jenny Mooney who recently celebrated her 90th birthday.