'More than just a principal': Ballivor pays tribute to Willie Keegan

Ballivor's St Columbanus's National School bade a fond farewell to its principal of over 20 years on Thursday 30th July. Principal Willie Keegan finished up last week after 22 years' service, during which he oversaw and worked tirelessly towards huge changes at the school, making it unrecognisable compared to when he first arrived in September 1989. Back then, the school didn't even have a phone, had around 70 pupils in attendance and just five teachers. Today, the school caters for over 320 pupils, has 14 teachers, five special needs assistants...and plenty of phone lines. The 'sports mad' Cloneyquinn, Co Offaly, man joined the school as a teaching principal and, in 2002, was made the full-time administrative principal famed for giving up his lunchtime to organise sports leagues with the pupils. He was a huge supporter of children's rights and an advocate of the St Anthony's Fund in the school, where benefactors funded children's activities with the motto 'no child left behind'. Mr Keegan became a very well-known figure on the local GAA scene, coaching under-10s and -12s and was a committee member and key driving force behind the establishment of the Giggles Childcare Centre. He was honoured at a Mass on Monday 27th June by parents and the local GAA community in Ballivor while the staff held a private goodbye presentation to him later in the week when they presented Mr Keegan with a signed Leinster rugby jersey, a donation to the St Anthony's Fund and a traditional clock, on behalf of the school. After years of prefabs at the school, Mr Keegan finally oversaw the establishment of the new building, which was opened in September 2009 by then Minister Noel Dempsey and Bishop Michael Smith. The now state-of-the-art school received IT and artistic grants which made it a bright and attractive place to come to for parents and pupils alike. One of the pieces of art under the grant at the school was a work by Ula Retzlaff O'Carroll called 'The Gift' which hung in his office. He was known to be fond of the work but Mrs Retzlaff O'Carroll asked for it back as artwork needed for one of her installations. His disappointment was short-lived, though, as there was no such installation but the painting was needed for a presentation by the board of management to Mr Keegan himself. Colleagues described Mr Keegan's commitment to the school, the community, the children and to his own staff as "unquestionable" and "inspirational". He was known for being early in to work and for putting people first at the expense of paperwork, which amounted to long days at the school as he caught up in the evenings. Still only in his 50s and a active member of community and sporting circles, it is not exactly known what Mr Keegan is planning next but staff believe that while his love of gardening might be indulged, or more time spent with his family - wife Louise, a teacher in Boyerstown; son Tomás and daughter Éilis - that he will remain central to the Ballivor area, which he helped so much as principal. Principal of Boardsmill NS, John Byrne, will become the new principal of St Columbanus's, and will follow on the work of a man whom one pupil described on a farewell poster to Mr Keegan as "more than just a principal".