The staff of Portlaoise College gave a formal farewell last Friday October 12 to a wonderful teacher and friend, PJ McEvoy.
Despite announcing his intention to retire last May, the staff and students of the school are still finding it hard to get used to the idea of Mr. McEvoy’s absence from the corridors and classroom.
The evening was a great success with staff joined by PJ, his wife Josephine and sons Barry and Niall.
With a 38 year teaching career behind him he certainly has paid his dues to the profession.
Principal Noel Daly spoke of PJ’s dedication to the needs of students and his drive and professionalism right to the final day of the academic year.
PJ reflected on his career and shared some really valuable insights into the changes in teaching and Irish society as a whole.
PJ really treated the job as a vocation, his words capturing the importance of the job and schools in general in people’s lives.
A fountain of sporting knowledge he used the analogy that he “lost a yard of pace” towards the end of his career but his fire and determination never diminished.
The appreciation that the staff had of Mr McEvoy was palpable on the night, everyone wishes him the very best in the years ahead.
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