Kevin O'Meara
- Published: 24 April 2007
Kevin O'Meara attended O'Connell Schools, St. Patrick's, Drumcondra, and UCD. He worked in St. Canice's CBS (the school behind Croke Park) for a while before moving to Our Lady Immaculate SNS IN 1974 Our Lady immaculate is a designated disadvantaged school, involved in Early Start Pre School, Breaking the Cycle, Even Break, School Completion Programme. Kevin then became Principal of Our Lady's in 1992.
Previously teacher representtive to BoM and parents' representative to BoM, Ballyboughal N.S, Kevin is currently on BoM of Coláiste Dhúlaigh VEC.
A former member of CPSMA (Dublin) and former executive member and treasurer of NABMSE, he is Member of SERC and trustee of St. Laurence O'Toole GAC. Kevin was previously manager of Dublin minor hurling team.
He has been an IPPN Executive Officer for the past number of years with a responsibility for school governance and management.
Jim Hayes
- Published: 24 April 2007
Jim started his teaching career in Beaumont N.S. Cork. He later became the first Principal of the new St. Mark's School. In 1988 he was involved in founding a second new school, Scoil Oilibhéir in Ballyvolane, where he is now Principal. In his career as Principal, he has seen the role develop from the days of - opening the school, calling the rolls and sending the monthly returns - to the very complex and legally onerous role imposed on Principals today.
Like the rest of us, Jim worked through all the changes, took on all the responsibilities, experienced the stresses and strains and waited for somebody to shout "Stop". There was no professional development, no time allowance for Teaching Principals, no in-service training in management and no support. He was instrumental in convincing the DES to formally recognise IPPN as a professional body with full status as an equal partner in education and impressed on them the absolute necessity of having a full time director to service the needs of this young, vibrant organisation.
During his stewardship IPPN has become a major influence in Irish education and has developed mutually respectful links with the DES,INTO, NAPD, NPC, CPSMA and other national and international educational bodies.
David Ruddy, IPPN President
- Published: 24 April 2007
David Ruddy was elected Deputy President/President Elect by the IPPN National Council in June 2015. David is principal of Talbot Senior National School in Clondalkin, Dublin, a co-ed school. He has been the author of the Legal Diary since Leadership+ was first launched in 2000.
David qualified as a barrister and has lectured extensively over the last 20 years. He is legal advisor to IPPN and has facilitated a number of one-day seminars on the subject of Your School & the Law as well as short seminars on avoiding litigation, family law, education law and SEN at numerous IPPN conferences. He has also presented numerous courses for Education Centres. He lectures in law in Marino Institute of Education and Trinity College Dublin. David is a legal editor of the Primary Education Management Manual published by Thompson Round Hall and is a member of FLAC. He is also a lecturer and an examiner for the Law Society of Ireland.
David is married to Yvonne, a primary deputy principal and former nurse. They have 3 children - Iris, Brendan and Maeve.
David will serve as IPPN President from September 2017 to August 2019. As IPPN President, David would like to enhance the advocacy role of IPPN, harnessing members’ influence and position to progress the issue of increased release days for teaching principals and to lift the moratorium on In-school management, initiatives which would make the job of the school principal more sustainable.
Angela Lynch
- Published: 24 April 2007
Angela graduated from Mary Immaculate College in 1975. She is a past pupil of Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Glasheen Road, Cork and has taught there since her graduation. Angela began her teaching career as the Learning Support Teacher in this school. She was then appointed a Teaching Principal and spent four years in this position. Currently she is the Administrative Principal in Scoil Mhuire gan Smal. This school is a 13 teacher school. Angela was involved in the Early Organising Committee of Cork IPPN. In the early years she worked closely with local committees. Two years ago she was appointed to the IPPN Executive. In her first term she held responsibility for Special Needs.
Angela currently holds the role of Principal Advice Manager.
Gerry Murphy
- Published: 24 April 2007
Gerry is a native of Knockbridge, Dundalk and today lives in Blackrock with his wife Marian. He graduated as National Teacher from St Patrick's Drumcondra in 1972; completed a BA (Gaeilge and Psychology) from UCD in 1981 and an MSc (Computer Applications for Education) from DCU 1998. Gerry taught in De La Salle, Ballyfermot from 1972 to 1979 and was Principal of St Joseph's N.S., Dundalk from 1979 until his retirement in 2013. During that time, the school grew from a green site 2-teacher school to a school which has a staff of 33 teachers and 14 non-teaching members.
Gerry has worked in schools serving disadvantaged communities throughout his working career and has been the Educational Disadvantage Co-ordinator on the IPPN Executive, of which he has been a member since 2006. Gerry served as IPPN President between 2011 and 2013. He currently serves as Past President. He is also the IPPN representative on the Louth Children's Services Committee (CSC) and co-ordinates IPPN CSC representation across the state.
Since his retirement, Gerry has remained incredibly active within the education sector outside IPPN as well as within. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Archways (responsible for Incredible Years Programmes in ROI). He is currently serving as Chairperson (2014-2015) of Genesis Project Advisory Group, an Area Based Childhood initiative (of the DCYA) based in Dundalk and Drogheda in Co Louth targeting children in the 0-6 years age group.
