Head to retire after three decades teaching

Head to retire after three decades teaching

29 June 2016

MARTHA Hannity brings down the curtain on a teaching career spanning almost three decades this week.

As the P7 pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School in Ballycruttle prepare for a special leavers event next Tuesday, Martha — who has been principal for the past 16 years — is also planning to say farewell.

Her teaching career began 28 years ago and Martha admits it will be a wrench to leave a career which has given her so much. But she is looking forward to the new chapter about to open in her life which will include plenty of fresh air riding her bicycle, walking and spending time in the Mournes.

Martha succeeded James Murphy as principal but the pair’s association goes back to their primary school days when they were both in the same class.

And while she is retiring this week, her family’s association with the quaint rural primary continues as her daughter Helen is on the teaching staff.

Martha began her teaching career working at St Colmcille’s Primary School in Downpatrick eight years before she secured a permanent post at St Joseph’s.

“Eighteen months after I arrived James followed me from St Colmcille’s to become school principal and stayed here for 11 years. I have been principal for the past 16 years and can say I thoroughly enjoyed my work and can look back on my career with fondness,” she said.

Martha said when some people retire they talk about travelling the world but she said this is not on her agenda when the daily routine of preparing for class comes to an end.

“The only travelling I will be doing will be along local roads on my bicycle or on foot. I will also be spending the odd day in the mountains, soaking up a lot of fresh air,” she explained.

The retiring principal is also well known in badminton circles and plays for Ballygowan Presbyterians. It is a sport she has a long association with.

“It is is great to have an interest in sport and I play badminton from September through to April when the golf then takes over. Once I retire, I will be able to play golf all year round and that is something I am looking forward to,” she continued. “Ladies Day in Ardglass is on a Wednesday and I was always teaching so I couldn’t play. Now that I have retired I will be able to and that is something I’m looking forward to.” 

In between her leisure and sporting interests, Martha also plans to spend a bit more time in her garden.

“I will have plenty of things to keep me busy once I retire. I will miss teaching, the staff, pupils and parents. I taught the P1 and P2 pupils and am now teaching the children of many of my former pupils so I want to get out before I start teaching their grandchildren,” she joked.

“My daughter Helen has been teaching with me at St Joseph’s for seven years so the family association with the school will continue which is nice. We have three teachers including myself and four classroom assistants and there is a lovely atmosphere in the school.

“A new chapter is about to open for me and I am looking forward to that. We are having our P7 leavers day next Tuesday which will be one of my last roles as school principal. The event will also mark the end of my association with St Joseph’s.

“While I am looking forward to retiring, I am sad about leaving a school which has been such a big part of my life. The past few weeks leading up to my retirement have been hard and I have to admit it will be quite a wrench to go.”