Our new Principal - an introduction

New Principal of St. Farnan’s P.P.S. – Mr. Andrew Purcell

I would briefly like to introduce myself to all the education partners linked with St. Farnan’s; our students, staff, parents & guardians, Board of Management and Parents’ Association members and our community around Prosperous and the local environs.

Thank you for the very warm welcome that I have received in Prosperous over the past month and also when I visited our local link Primary schools in Robertstown, Coill Dubh, Allenwood, Staplestown, Timahoe and across the road from St. Farnan’s, Scoil an Linbh Iosa, recently.

While it has been an extremely busy and exciting time in my professional life getting to know so many new faces (masked) whilst learning new procedures and practices within a Covid restricted school setting, I have been totally engerised by the welcome from previous Principal, Eddie Collins, previous School Secretary Shelia Walsh, Deputy Principal Sarah Kennedy and over the past three weeks by our engaged, bright and wonderful students and our inspiring, caring and professional staff in St. Farnan’s PPS. I would also like to welcome and thank our new fantastic and utterly organised School Secretary, Jenna Donagher – she has big shoes to fill, as do I!

Moving from my position within the Senior Leadership and Management Team in Lucan Community College, where I have spent the last 21 years of my professional life as Music teacher, Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal since 2009, has been challenging as I had invested hugely in the College life in Lucan both educationally, socially and in extra-curricular and academic areas, I can definitely say that I am inspired and humbled to be taking on the very important role as Principal of St. Farnan’s under Kildare and Wicklow ETB’s patronage.

I am here to encourage, sustain and develop our staff to support, care for and invigorate all of our students to do their best daily, make good decision, and to grow and mature within a safe and friendly environment. I look forward to meeting all our student cohort and staff members over the coming weeks and our parents and guardians and others in this lovely community around Prosperous soon.

We, as a team of educators in St. Farnan’s, will listen, care for, focus on and help with enthusiasm and with energy, to continually develop all our students to motivate them to have high expectations and achieve their best always.

Andrew Purcell