You Will Be Missed!
May 2026 will be a year to remember as three legends of DCS are retiring at the end of this school year. Mr Ciarán O Cuanachain, Mr Ted O’Sullivan and Mr John O’Connell are all moving on to pastures new and they will be missed by the entire school community.
Mr Pat Barry fittingly pays tribute to them:
“Mr. O Cuanachain is firm. He is fair. He is absolutely, all about the students. Simply, he is always full of life and heart. When you walked thar thairseach seomra a hocth deag, it's Gaeilge you would hear. He is a passionate gaeilge advocator and accompanied students to An Gaeltacht. There was no prouder man wearing his hoodie glas during Seachtain na Gaeilge. His classes were always underpinned by serious learning and even more importantly - serious care.
Ciarán has an extraordinary ability to connect with senior students, something generations of DCS students have benefited from. He treated students with respect, expected high standards and embodied the spirit of DCS in everything he did.
He was always a great believer in "having a word" or "l'll chat to him" when resolving issues and that approach brought calm and perspective to many situations over the years.
He has also been hugely supportive of senior management. Ciarán deeply and instinctively cares about this school — and we are all better for it.
As he now moves on to retirement — to time with his beloved grandchildren, to more matches and concerts to a well-earned break from the school bell — we simply want to say Thank You Mr. O Cuanachain, - you leave behind an extraordinary legacy. You have made a difference to so many, and we are all the better for it.
I must also pay tribute to another DCS stalwart, Mr. Ted O Sullivan who also retires at the end of the school year.
Ted has been a deeply valued teacher at DCS. He taught Business and LCVP to students. He had a unique ability to connect with students. Room 4 was particularly welcoming to students. It may look more like a "soccer sanctuary" than a classroom and this environment put students at ease as soon as they entered the classroom. Sport was intertwined into each lesson as were discussions on who the next millionaire in Ireland would be. He was a natural at grabbing students attention and they responded with great affection.
Ted now will have much more time for his place in France... and this is the first year in a long while where the date we return in August will not matter to Ted. Please know you will be missed!
We are also losing our most senior SNA, Mr. John O' Connell, at the end of the academic year. As a Special Needs Assistant, John has supported countless students over the years with kindness, patience and genuine care. What always stood out was his empathy - his ability to see the person behind the behaviour and to always act in the student's best interests.
John brought calm to difficult days, encouragement to anxious moments and good humour to every corridor he passed through. Simply put, he is a Dude — and we will miss seeing him cycling through the gates at every morning wearing his beloved Everton FC cycling helmet.
Thanks John.”
