Kerry

The Kerry RTAI branch had a most convivial outing in Killarney last Thursday. Assembling in the car park of The Castlerosse Hotel the group set on a walk of the former Kenmare Estate. Under the guidance of Síobhān Clancy the group experienced stunning views of The Lakes of Killarney, the Killarney mountains and the town itself. A large herd of deer was seen roaming the estate oblivious to any trekkers. 

Kerry RTAI wishes to thank Kerry Museum Curator Helen O’Carroll and her team for a wonderful tour of their galleries and collections storeroom last week.

The Kerry  branch has 450 members and those Retired Teachers who have not as yet joined the R.T.A.I. are urged to do so as we need a vibrant association in our fight for full pension restoration for all teachers and parity with serving teachers.

In 2017 on the Social side members did a number of organized walks, visited Kells Gardens, did a trip to Listowel to the John B. Keane’s Pub to be entertained by Billy, visited the Seanachaí Centre, did a guided walk of Listowel town with evening dinner in The Listowel Arms Hotel. Members attended a number of informative talks including a talk by Dermot Goode on  Total Health Care  and Health Plans on the invitation of  the Limerick  Branch R.T.A.I.

Trips and Talks are currently being  organized for 2018.

(L to R) Brian Mangan, RTAI National Executive Council, Maire‡d U’ Bhrosnach‡in (Treasurer), Brid Cronin, M’ícheál Ó Suilleabháin, Julie O’Connor (Secretary) and Fr Kieran O’Brien, Killarney Parish ADM. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

Mí’cheá‡l Ó Sœúlleabh‡áin (Cathaoirleach), left, and Brid Cronin (Treasurer), right. Also included from left are are Brian Mangan, RTAI National Executive Council, Maire‡d U’ Bhrosnach‡in (Treasurer), Julie O’Connor (Secretary) and Fr Kieran O’Brien, Killarney Parish ADM. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

History of the Kerry Branch of RTAI

On Thursday January 25^th 1973 a group of retired primary teachers from all parts of the county met in the Grand Hotel, Tralee, with the object of reviving the Kerry Branch of” Pensioned Teachers Association”  which had become inactive for some years. The meeting was convened by Jerry Allman on the suggestion of Dan Finn, Dublin, Secretary of P.T.A.  & Tom Lynch of Limerick. Those present were enthusiastic in supporting the revival. Liam Langford, Killorglin was unanimously selected as Chairman & Jerry Allman, Causeway as Honorary Secretary .The meeting agreed to support the association in it’s demands for:

1. Continuing parity of pensions with future retiring salary structures
2. Pension payments to be free of income tax.

Members from each of the 9 I.N.T.O branch districts in the county were appointed to collect the names & addresses of retired teachers in their area & forward them to Jerry Allman without undue delay. Members were requested to contact retired members of religious orders. Contact was not to be made with retired lay teachers who were not members of the I.N.T O. while in service.

The following were appointed:

Tralee :           Mrs E. Murphy, Cristín Bn. Uí  Dhomhnaill, Mrs K. Kitzgerald

Killarney:         Micheál Galvin, Eugene Moriarty

Listowel :        Mrs P. Scanlon, Liam De Brún

Dingle :           Seamus Mac Gearailt

Caherciveen :  Pádraig Breathnach, Pádraig Sugrue

Kenmare:        Mr. & Mrs Tadhg Scully

Killorglin:         Liam Langford, Seamus Doherty

Rathmore:       Tadhg O’Connor

Castleisland:    Maurice Walshe

It was also decided that contact should be made with other retired state pensioner associations i.e. Army, Gardaí, Civil Service etc. with a view to pursuing a common policy for the future.

25 members attended this preliminary meeting.

An initial membership fee of £1 was agreed. A general meeting was arranged for Saturday March 10^th1973 to be held in the Grand Hotel, Tralee.

Annual General Meeting

Kerry Branch

The first Annual General meeting of the revived Kerry Branch of the Pensioned Teachers Association was held in the Grand Hotel, Tralee on Saturday March 10^th 1973. The meeting was well attended with members & intending members present from all parts of the county. Judging from the subscriptions forwarded to Mr. Dan Finn, the membership  was in the region of 65 to 70.  It was agreed that meetings should be held twice yearly. The next meeting was fixed for Killarney for October 1973.

By October 1973 the membership had risen to 139. The total income from membership was £141.50. When all expenses were paid there was a balance of £92.82. It was then decided to forward £50.00 to the Central Committee.

By October 1974 the membership had further increased to 166 – 142 lay members & 24 religious. Delegates to A.G.M. were allowed £20 expenses each & £75 was sent to Dan Finn as the annual subscription for 1974.

On October 4th 1975 Mass was celebrated in the Franciscan Friary, Killarney for deceased members prior to the Half-Yearly meeting which was held in the Royal Hotel, Killarney. The tradition of celebrating Mass for deceased members prior to the winter meeting has continued each year since then. Afternoon tea was served after the meeting & that practice continued each year & was replaced with a Christmas lunch in 2002. Afternoon tea continued at the summer meetings until 2012 & was replaced with a lunch in 2013.

In 1977 the name changed from “Pensioned Teachers Association, Kerry Branch ” to “Association of Retired Teachers, Kerry Branch”. It was also decided in 1977 to increase the annual subscription from £1 to £2 because of the rising cost of postage & stationery. In !981 the Annual Subscription was again increased from £2 to £3. Again because of the cost of postage & stationery.

In 1983 the system of having the Annual Subscription deducted at source was introduced.

The word “parity” was common to every meeting up to 1984 & is now discussed again at meetings since 2009.

Jerry Allman.

All his life Jerry fought for better conditions for teachers and was elected President of the I.N.T.O. in 1967. It was during his term in office as President of the I.N.T.O. that the teachers of Ardfert & Kilmoyley schools went on strike over the conditions of their school buildings. As one of those striking teachers I must put on record the tremendous support we got from Jerry Allman, Brendan Scannell & Sen. Jackie Brosnan & they were in daily telephonic communication with us. The three of them worked behind the scenes during that strike and they are due an enormous amount of credit for its effects. The strike led to improvements in National Schools all over the country.

Jerry retired from teaching in 1972. In 1973 he revived the Pensioned Teachers’ Association, Kerry Branch which had become inactive for a number of years and was elected its first Honorary Secretary .He worked tirelessly for the R.T.A.in Kerry & because of his hard work & dedication he saw its membership and influence grow year by year. Jerry Allman was elected Honorary Secretary of the R.T.A. Kerry Branch on March 19^th 1983  for the 11^th time but unfortunately had  died before the next meeting in October.  He had requested to be relieved of the secretary’s position a number of times over the previous 3 years.

Breandán Ó  Scannail

Brendan Scannell was appointed secretary of R.T.A, Kerry Branch on the death of Jerry Allman. Brendan continued the great work started by Jerry Allman and fought for better conditions for retired  teacher but unfortunately ill health forced him to retire as secretary. Brendan passed away in 1986.

Brendan was elected to the C.E.C. of the I.N.T.O. on the Election of Jerry Allman as Vice President. Brendan was later elected President of the I.N.T.O. in 1977.

Chairpersons:

Liam de  Lungphort                                      1973  – 1974

Liam De Brún                                                1974  –  1976

Tadhg Dunne                                                1976  –  1978

Peter Coughlan                                             1978  –  1980

Michael Murphy                                            1980  –  1982

Kathleen Mulvihill                                         1982  –  1984

Batt Griffin                                                     1984  –  1986

Martin Daly                                                    1986  –  1989

Eibhlín Talbóid                                              1989  –  1991

Pádraig Ó  Siochrú                                        1991  –  1993

Máire Bn. Mhic  Mhathúna                          1993  –  2000

Micheál Ó  Duinnín                                        2000  –  2003

Pádraig Ó  Murchú                                        2003  –  2005

Tomás Mac  Cionnaith                                  2005  –  2009

Breanndán Breathnach                               2009  –  2013

Micheál Ó  Súilleabhán                                 2013 –

Honorary   Secretary/Treasurer:

Jerry Allman                                                   1973  –  1983

Brendan Scannell                                         1983  –  1986

Eibhlín Talbóid                                               1986  –  1989

Margery Long                                                 1989  –  2011

Bríd Uí  Chróinín                                             2011  –  2017

Honorary Secretary:

Julie O’Connor                                               2017  –

Treasurer:

Mairéad Uí   Bhrosnacháin                            2017  –