Teachers Inspire Ireland awardees Sinead OMahony (Munster), Seamas Cassidy (Connacht) and Nora Duffy (Leinster), pictured with broadcaster Miriam OCallaghan, who served as host for the Teachers Inspire gala event at The Helix in DCU.
Sinéad O’Mahony, a teacher at the Mid-West School for the Deaf in Greenfields 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) last Friday night. 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 schooldays are long behind them but who remember their teachers with great fondness and gratitude.
“I congratulate Sinéad, and all the teachers recognised and celebrated at the gala event. Their awards are hugely well deserved.”
Sinéad 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. Sinéad 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.