Mr Paddy McAleenan

IT was with much sadness that St Malachy’s High School learnt of the death of their esteemed past-principal Mr Paddy McAleenan. 

Mr McAleenan was an educational visionary. He understood the importance of students having an holistic educational experience that encompassed the spiritual, academic, physical, social and emotional development of the individual. 

Mr McAleenan continued and built upon the work of his predecessors Mr Danny Flynn and Sr Leonard. He forged ahead with the provision of academic and vocational educational pathways so that every student could fulfil his or her potential. 

His work and that of subsequent principals has made St Malachy’s a top educational institution for its community and beyond. St Malachy’s is able to offer the full Entitlement Framework — a curriculum to serve the needs of the 21st century student.

A ‘gentleman’ in the fullest sense of the word, Mr McAleenan used his tremendous intellectual ability and exceptional interpersonal skills to secure quality educational outcomes for the school and the community. He was held in high esteem in educational circles and within this locality. His leadership was such that St Malachy’s High School was affectionately called ‘Paddy McAleenan’s school’. 

At Mr McAleenan’s requiem mass staff and students of St Malachy’s were privileged to provide a guard of honour to the past principal who had left a legacy of learning that of which we are so proud to belong. 

May Paddy McAleenan rest in peace, in the presence of God whom he loved and served with genuine devotion.