THE Ennis branch of the INTO held a function in The West County Hotel recently to celebrate the retirement of former members.

After a very enjoyable meal, each retiree received a copy of a specially commissioned branch scroll from former INTO president Declan Kelleher and a retirement card from the teaching union which was presented by Central Executive Committee representative Seán McMahon.
Master of ceremonies for the night, Dick O’Connell, thanked the retirees for their career-long membership of the union and for their commitment to education for anything up to 43 years.
Declan Kelleher also paid tribute to the part the retired teachers played both in improving conditions of employment for teachers generally and for the improvements in conditions for children in their care. He wished each a long and healthy retirement as they had earned it.
Longest-serving retiree, Garry Stack, the former principal of Ennis National School, replied on behalf of the retirees and thanked the branch for a most enjoyable night.