A new principal has been appointed at one of the city’s best known second level schools.
John O’Keeffe will take over the position in September following the retirement of Jimmy Brennan at St Joseph’s, the ‘Bish’ school at Nuns’ Island.
Mr O’Keeffe is from Mitchelstown, Co Cork and has been a staff member at the boys’ school since 1974. He taught mathematics and was very active in sports activities having coached soccer teams in the school for a number of years. He has been deputy principal since 2006.
John Madden has been appointed deputy principal to succeed John O’Keeffe. Mr Madden is from Dublin and taught physical education and mathematics. He has been on the Bish’s staff since 1999. He previously taught at Rice College in Ennis and O’Connell schools in Dublin. He is a keen sportsman and a former Dublin senior football panellist.
St Joseph’s Patrician College has more than 770 boys on its books. The school carries on the strong ethos of the Patrician Brothers who have been involved in education in Galway city since 1827. The school combines a strong record of academic achievement with sporting successes. In recent weeks the school won the Senior A All Ireland Soccer title, First Year All Ireland Basketball title, Connacht Hurling title and had significant success in the major rowing regattas both at home and abroad.
A spokesperson for the board of management said it was delighted to announce these appointments.
“We are confident that the school will grow and prosper over the coming years under the leadership of the new principal and deputy principal. The board wishes to thank Jimmy Brennan who retires as principal at the end of August. Jimmy’s dynamic leadership of the school during his years as deputy principal and more recently as principal, has laid a sound foundation for his successor. We wish him and his family every health and happiness in his retirement.”
