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It was with great sadness we learned of the death of Mrs. Teena Guinan, a past principal of Lumcloon National School. She started teaching in Lumcloon in 1966 and retired in 1997. She taught our current principal, Mr. Gilligan and will be sadly missed by her family and good friend and colleague, Eileen Kerin, another past principal of our school. The following is taken from a reflection on Teena’s life which Eileen read at Teena’s retirement mass in 1997.

Ar Dheis Dé go rabih a hanam dílis.

Teena and Fr. Kelly.

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Teena Peters, (later to become Mrs. Guinan) was born in Athboy, Co. Meath and her family then moved to Carrig in Co. Tipperary where she attended primary school.

She commenced her teaching career in Tullow, Co. Clare in 1951 and later moved to Kilcormac where she taught in the Boys School.

She travelled home each weekend on her bicycle to serve in her Auntie Cis’s pub “The Glue Pot”.

While working in Kilcormac she met and married Derry Guinan, a local garage owner in 1957. They raised a family of three boys and three girls.

On the 10th February 1966 she was appointed to Lumcloon National School and among her first pupils was our own Pat Barrett.

Each morning when she came in, the first thing she did was light the big black pot bellied stove.

She proved to be an excellent teacher with a special affinity for Irish and Maths.

On July 1st 1975 I was appointed as assistant to Mrs. Guinan. What began then as a working relationship, later developed into a deep life long personal friendship.

It was at this time also that the first Board of Management was formed. Mrs Guinan has served faithfully and conscientiously on ALL Boards ever since.

In August 1984 Mrs. Guinan became seriously ill with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

It was mainly through her courage, perseverance and strength of character and also through the love and care of her family, doctors and nurses that she made a full recovery.

In 1986 she encouraged the formation of a school football team which was to prove a turning point for many local children in their playing of Gaelic Football.

Teams were entered each year in Cumann na mBunscol competitions. We lost some, we drew some and of course we won some.

Mrs. Guinan has a great appreciation of music and finds nothing more enjoyable than to listen to good music.

She has produced and presented school concerts and prepared the choir for First Communion and Confirmation each year since she started teaching here.

Mrs. Guinan possesses a deep and personal faith.

In her preparation each year for the Sacrament of Confirmation she has inspired her pupils by her own strong commitment and dedication. Her devotion to Our Lady is an example to all of us.

We have now reached the point where Mrs. Guinan will be retiring from our school.

She will be leaving a legacy of love, care, attention and good humour which has had a deep affect on the lives of all those who came in contact with her.

She developed the talents of all her pupils and handled weaknesses and learning difficulties sensitively.

She developed a very happy relationship with parents and the local community.

May God Bless You Teena

Our forever friend.