End of an era as Marie bids fond farewell to St Hilda's after 40 years

Having endeared herself to four generations of pupils at St Hilda's Special School in Athlone, much-loved staff member Marie Glancy, has decided to call time on her career.

Marie officially retires as a Special Needs Assistant at the Grace Park road school this weekend after 40 years, but her huge contribution to the life of the school over the past four decades was honoured at a special Mass and presentation on December 19 last, at which she was described as “an inspiration and a good friend” to the entire school community.

In her speech at the retirement Mass for Marie Glancy, Pia Hughes said the two words “Ask Marie” has become her mantra ever since she was appointed as Principal of St Hilda's.

"When I first started working here, no matter what I was looking for I was always advised to “ask Marie” and that became my mantra over the years,” said Ms Hughes who went on to liken the long-serving SNA to “superwoman”.

Marie (nee Furey) began her career in St Hilda's in 1979, the year Pope John Paul 11 visited Ireland, and her first day in the school was November 5 of that year. She was interviewed by Jarlath Keaney (then Principal), John Gately, who was the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of St. Hilda's Services and Jim Dobbie, who was chair of the Board of Management.

Not only was she the first Special Needs Assistant to be employed by St Hilda's school, but she was also among the very first cohort of SNAs across the country. “She set the standard high,” Principal Pia Hughes told her retirement function, immersing herself in every aspect of the school community from her very first day.

Pia Hughes also pointed out that, as well as being “the powerhouse” of St Hilda's, Marie Glancy was also the longest-serving member of staff. “That, in itself, is an amazing achievement and one that deserves recognition,” she added.

Having displayed “great energy and passion” for her work and for the development of St Hilda's school, the new SNA became involved in all aspects of school life, including the equestrian club, where she organised and helped with the Midlands Regional Horse riding training for pupils, and the Special Olympics where she took a particular interest in training children for the swimming and athletics events.

She also attended many Special Olympics training sessions and events over the years at local, regional, national, European and World level.

She displayed her “legendary competitive nature” when she became a member of the St Hilda's Special School staff table tennis team which won the National Primary Teachers' Table Tennis league, and she also had what Pia Hughes said was “the winning edge” during Credit Union art competitions over the years.

Marie Glancy was such an integral part of the life of St Hilda's over the past four decades that she could “turn her hand to anything” her retirement function heard., from creating costumes for pupils in school plays to directing school traffic, to building Santa's Grotto on an annual basis, and she could even “whip up a delicious cake at a minute's notice” said Pia Hughes.

Words like “kind, warm, hardworking, generous, creative, motherly, energetic, dancing queen” were used by staff in St Hilda's to describe their valued colleague at her retirement Mass in the school before Christmas, which was celebrated by Rev. Fr Pat Murphy.

“She has been the backbone of school plays, fundraising events, school celebrations, Special Olympic events, staff nights out and school tours for over 40 years,” said the Principal.

On behalf of all the pupils, parents, staff and the Board of Management at St Hilda's, Pia Hughes wished Marie Glancy a “happy, healthy and long retirement” and said she would continue to be “an inspiration” to the entire St Hilda's community as “both a colleague and a good friend.”

The retiring SNA, who has an adult son, Brian, plans to spend more time with her her close family members at her second home in Spain after her retirement.

St Hilda's Special School provides education for children aged between 5-18 years that present with moderate/severe/profound intellectual disabilities as well as other complex needs.