Gaeilge
Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) has announced the appointment of Ms Caroline McCauley as the new Deputy Principal of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Oileán Árainn Mhór. She replaces Mr Daniel Doherty who retired at the end of the last school year.
Established in 1990, Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada has been a cornerstone of the local community, providing young people with the opportunity to complete their second-level education while remaining close to home. It is one of two island post-primary schools in Co Donegal. As a Gaeltacht school, Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada is currently enabled to provide educational programmes through both the mediums of Irish and English.
Caroline will work alongside recently appointed Principal, Derval Newman, and a staff team of around twenty at the Árainn Mhór island school which has a student population of approximately one hundred students.
A native of Oileán Árainn Mhóir and a former Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada student, Caroline started her teaching career in her former post-primary school in 2004, having completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and Geography and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the University of Galway. In 2008 she obtained a Cambridge CELTA qualification and completed a Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching with the University of Limerick in 2014.
Caroline became a member of the school’s Board of Management in 2019 and has chaired the Board since 2023. In 2021 she became Programmes Coordinator and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership with the University of Limerick in 2022.
Speaking about her new appointment, Caroline said: “I have a deep connection to the school and the families we serve, as an islander, a proud past pupil of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada and a member of staff since 2004. I am excited to take up the role of Deputy Principal. I look forward to working alongside our new Principal Derval Newman, the dedicated staff, our students and the wider community of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada in continuing to enhance students’ holistic development on their educational journey, as well as empowering them to make meaningful contributions both within and beyond the classroom. I am looking forward to embarking on this new chapter in my career.”
In congratulating Caroline on her appointment, Donegal ETB’s Director of Schools Dr Martin Gormley said, “I would like to congratulate Caroline on her appointment as our new Deputy Principal in Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada. I am confident that her leadership will help to further the development and embedding of the school as part of a strong community interested in promoting education on the island. Caroline will join our Principal, Ms Derval Newman, as part of the senior leadership team in the school. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will undoubtedly make in their respective roles as the school continues to progress.’’
Ms. McCauley’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment in the school’s history, coinciding with the opening of new facilities on the campus. This expansion reflects Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its facilities and enriching the educational experience for all students. Guided by a mission to promote, offer, and support accessible and inclusive learning, the school empowers students to reach their full potential, nurturing a spirit of resilience and achievement.
Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada is one of fifteen of the county’s twenty-seven post-primary schools under the management of Donegal ETB, the county’s largest education and training provider, which is also a trustee partner for a further eight Community and Comprehensive schools in the county. Over 5,900 students attended Donegal ETB post-primary schools in the school year 2023/24.