Sinead O’Mahony, a teacher at the Mid-West School for the Deaf in Greenfields, Co Limerick, has been named as the Munster awardee at the inaugural Teachers Inspire Ireland gala event, which was held at The Helix in Dublin City University (DCU).
The President of DCU, Professor Brian MacCraith; Dr Anne Looney, Dean of DCU’s Institute of Education; and businessman and philanthropist Dermot Desmond, who generously supported the Teachers Inspire Ireland initiative, made the presentations to the awardees at a gala ceremony hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan.
Speaking at the event, the President of DCU, Professor Brian MacCraith, said, “The motivation behind Teachers Inspire was to create a platform that would highlight the work of our exceptional teachers, and give them the validation and recognition they deserve. I am delighted to say that this idea has truly captured the public’s imagination. We have received hundreds of nominations and heard incredible stories of teachers who have gone above and beyond for their students and their communities.
“The nominations highlighted teachers dealing with issues such as homelessness, mental health, immigration, unplanned pregnancies, gender identity support, community regeneration, and climate change. They were submitted by schoolchildren, parents, and people whose school days are long behind them but who remember their teachers with great fondness and gratitude.
“I congratulate Sinead, and all the teachers recognised and celebrated at the gala event. Their awards are hugely well deserved.”
Sinead was selected as the Munster awardee for her unstinting dedication to her students, consistently going the “extra mile” and for the manner in which she fosters and cultivates a culture of inclusion for all within the school system. Sinead constantly attends workshops and seminars outside school hours and is strongly involved in the deaf community, supporting families to bring their children together outside of school. Sinead was nominated by parent Rachel Broderick whose son, Daniel, is a student of Sinead’s.
Further information about Teachers Inspire Ireland – and all the teachers who were recognised at last night’s event – is available at www.teachersinspire.ie.
