Joseph McFadden
Joseph McFadden was principal of the boys school from 1897 to 1922. Joseph was a native of The Valley, Achill. He lodged in O'Reillys of Cuilenthra and married Ellen O'Reilly. They lived for a time in Cuilmore and later moved to Lecarrow where their son John now resides. Joseph was a relation of Miss Breege Chambers, presently teaching in the school whose mother is Mary McFadden from Keel, Achill. Joseph died at 45 years of age.
Mrs. Casey
Mrs. Casey was principal in the girls school before the new school was built. Her maiden name was Sweeney from Louisburgh. Her husband came from Drimulra and was a relation of Princess Grace. He was a teacher too and taught in the boys school in Newport. They lived in Castlebar Street, Newport and had one child, Maura Casey, who lived in Newport all her life.
Mr. Frank Power
Mr. Frank Power, born in England, studied for the priest- hood for some time. Then he went off on a ship. On the ship he found an Irish grammar book by chance and so became interested in the Irish language. Back in England he joined the Gaelic League and learned to play the bag-pipes. Sometime later he came to Ireland as a "Muinteoir Taistil" -travelling teacher. Eventually he went to De La Salle Training College in Waterford and qualified as a primary teacher. He came to teach in Achill Beg and was one of the founders of "Scoil Acla" which was again relaunched in 1985. "An Paorach" as he was then known, came to teach in Cuilmore in 1922 as principal of the old boys school. He was the first principal of the present "Scoil Anna" but only for a short time as he retired in 1944. From there, as a retired teacher he went to teach Irish in the Jesuits School ' in Galway. He is remembered around Newport as a kind man, a man of great culture and above all as somebody who deeply loved the Irish language. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dhilis.
Mrs. Halloran
Mrs. Halloran, a native of Cuilmore, better known to many as Baby Reilly, her maiden name. She taught in the old girls school with Mrs. Casey. She moved into the new school as assistant teacher with Mr. Power and later with Mrs. Coughlan until she retired in 1958. She lived in Kilbride after her marriage and her husband John often drove her to school on the side-car. Altogether she taught in Cuilmore school for 46 years -1912 to 1958.
Mrs. Irene Coughlan
Mrs. Irene Coughlan (nee Berry), a native of Newport, began her teaching career in a Convent School in Waterford. She also taught in Facefield near Claremorris. She replaced "An Paorach" as principal of Cuilmore School in 1944. She was an excellent teacher and worked very hard to ensure that every child reached his full potential. She never had a failure in Primary Cert. Her tin-whistle band was very much acclaimed at many concerts. A valued member of the Newport Church Choir, she could always be relied upon to sing seconds or thirds when requested. She was also very interested in drama. She commenced teaching in Cuilmore School in 1929 and retired in 1973. During that period she spent a short term in Facefield near Claremorris.
Mrs. Sheila Kelly
Mrs. Sheila Kelly, a native of Kiltimagh. She retired 'under the marriage ban when she married Tommie Kelly, principal of the boys school, Newport. When the ban was. removed in 1958 she went to teach in Cuilmore School where she remained for twelve years before moving to Dublin for family reasons. She is now retired and visits Newport regularly. During her time in Newport she was involved with the Apostolic Workers -a group of women who made clothes and vestments for the Missions.
Mrs. Mary O'Malley
Mrs. Mary O'Malley (nee Moran) was born in CoIlabrack, Newport. She comes from a strong teaching back- ground -a grand-aunt, two aunts, two uncles, a brother and numerous cousins chose the profession. Her husband Andrew was also a teacher. A fluent Irish speaker she attended primary school in Carraroe, Co. Galway for one year and spent all her summer holidays there as a teenager..
Her first appointment as teacher was in a Fior Gaeltacht school in Cama, Co. Galway, where she taught for almost , two years. She moved to her native parish as soon as a vacancy arose and taught in Shramore School for three years before moving to Derrada school when Mrs. Bella Cunningham retired. She made a final move to Cuilmore School in 1970. Mrs. O'Malley has taught all classes in the different schools but she has a strong preference for infants and juniors. A great lover of books she is responsible for bringing the library to Cuilmore School. As a young teacher she was very involved in different associations in her native parish. She was a founder member of the Newport Camogie Club and was captain of the first team. At the same time she was secretary of Mayo , County Camogie Board. As a member of the Newport Dramatic Society she took part in some of Fr. Horan's plays. She was also a member of the Agricultural Show Committee and the Feis Committee in conjunction with Macra na Feirme.
Presently she is very involved in Western Care Associa- tion at all levels. She is a member of the Board of Directors and was elected President of the Association in 1988. This association caters for people with a mental handicap and aims to give them all a quality service from the "cradle to the grave."
Mrs. Mary Jo Guilfoyle
Mrs. Mary Jo Guilfoyle (nee Kilcoyne) is a native of the parish. She hails from Shanballyhue, near Burrishoole. She emigrated to Birmingham in the early 1960s where she met her husband John, a native of Knock. There she qualified as a teacher and taught for a short time before her son Brian was born, She returned to her native parish to rear her family and a few years later a vacancy arose in Cuilmore
School when Mrs, Coughlan retired in 1973. She replaced Mrs. Mary O'Malley as assistant teacher, who was then promoted to principal. Mrs. Guilfoyle taught in Cuilmore School for thirteen years. She then moved to Mulranny as principal of that school when Sr. Perpetua retired. She was replaced in Cuilmore by Breege Chambers. During her time in Cuilmore, Mrs. Guilfoyle was a 'gifted art teacher and was very interested in child drama. She was particularly good at devising ,costumes for the Christmas concert. She was a great lover of everything to do with nature and instilled this love into all her pupils. An avid reader -she loves poetry and history with a special interest in local history. She is also very interested in rally driving, boating and flying,
Ms. Breege Chambers
Ms. Breege Chambers –a native of Mulranny. A good teaching background –her brother and her sister are teachers and her grandfather was also a teacher and a relation of Mr. McFadden who taught in the old school. Breege is one of those recently qualified teachers who took a three year training course and obtained a B.Ed. in Education. Mathematics and Irish.
In 1987 she was appointed assistant teacher in Cuilmore to replace Mrs. Mary Jo Guilfoyle who had just moved as principal to Mulranny School. Breege is a fluent Irish speaker, having got her Primary Education in an all Irish school. She is keenly interested in sport and takes care of the football outings for the school. In college, she was vice captain of the All-Ireland Colleges Volleyball Team in 1985. Also interested in acting she is a member of the Westport Dramatic Society. She enjoys travelling. In 1990 she took a career break and went to Japan and Spain. She also has visited Korea, North Africa, Turkey and all of Europe. This provided an opportunity for her to broaden her knowledge of lan- guages.
Some temporary teachers included:
Mr. John Meaney, B.Ed., a young man from Westport, who replaced Miss Breege Chambers while she was on a career break 1990-1991. John has since then been appointed to the staff of Holy Family Primary School, Newport.
Mrs. Annie Cleary (R.I.P.), a retired teacher from Treenlaur, Newport. She is fondly remembered by the pupils she taught for her love of Irish.
Mr. Frank Moran, Achill, replaced Mr. McFadden while he was away in the training college. Frank was a relation of the present principal, Mrs. Mary O'Malley.
