
St Francis NS Staff – May 2024 (photo courtesy of Paula Kavanagh Photography)
Seated: Fiona Murphy, Sarah O’Gradaigh, Yvonne O’Connor, Aideen Carroll, Brigitte Nelson, Annemarie Sweeney, Niamh O’Connell, Debbie Lundy, Helena Stapleton, Helen Clinton, Ciara Whately, Sophie Twibill.
Middle Row: Colmcille MacCarthaigh, Niamh Bailey, Cahal McShane, Jacqueline Connolly, Emily Hodgins, Craig Dixon, Maria Lyons, Jonathan Williams, Sharon McKevitt, Oreena Lawless, Elaine O’Rourke, Peter McGrane, Lisa Young, Suzanne O’Hare, Emma Kellegher, Megan Treadwell, Realtein McCann, Roisin McKevitt, Hannah Watters, Megan Glynn, Maria Boyle.
Back Row: Sarah Gray, Carmel Pinto, Louise Dillon, Rachel Rice, Anne Donaghy, Alison Gray, David Sheppard.
Missing from photo: Sarah-Jane Burns, Aoife Stanley, Ciara Hanratty.
Teacher Allocations for 2025 – 2026
Special Education Teachers
Mrs Clinton
Miss Lundy/Mrs O’Connell (job share)
Miss Kellegher (Reading Recovery)
Mrs Hanratty
Mrs McKenna
Síológa Autism Classes
Miss Watters
Mrs Stapleton
Junior Infants
Mrs O’Connell
Miss Lynn
Senior Infants
Miss McCann
Miss Twibill
1st Classes
Mrs Stanley
Miss Gray
2nd Classes
Mrs Cumiskey
Miss McGrath
3rd Classes
Ms Fleming
Mr Sheppard
4th Classes
Mrs O’Rourke
Mr Ward
5th Classes
Mrs Donaghy
Mrs Cooney
6th Classes
Ms Carroll
Mr McShane
Staff Profiles
Click on names under pictures to learn more.
Administration and Support
Principal

Oreena Lawless
Favourite movie: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Favourite drink: Tea
Favourite holiday destination: The West of Ireland
What you wanted to be when you grew up: An explorer
Favourite school subject: Gaeilge/ English/ Science/ History/ Music/ Art . . . .
Favourite novel: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lweis
Any other fun facts about you: I sing when I’m cooking!
Deputy Principal

Elaine O'Rourke
Favourite movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere!
Superpower: Sleeping
Favourite cake or pastry: All of them!
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A primary school teacher
Favourite school subject: Maths, PE, English and SESE
School Administrator

Brigitte Nelson
Favourite movie: Blade Runner (Director’s Cut)
Favourite drink: Gin / Red Wine / Coffee
Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere with sunshine, an uncrowded beach and cocktail service!
Superpower: School Secretary!
Favourite cake or pastry: Jambon
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A belly dancer
Favourite school subject: French and English
Favourite novel: That is a hard call – I love reading and could not possibly pick a favourite
Any other fun facts about you: I speak 6 languages. I am a world record holder 🙂
Special Needs Assistants

Sarah O'Gradaigh
Favourite movie: Dirty Dancing
Favourite drink: First cup of tea in the morning!
Favourite holiday destination: Lanzarote, Spain
Favourite cake or pastry: Baileys cheesecake
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A nurse
Favourite school subject: Geography
Favourite novel: Where the Crawdads Sing
Any other fun facts about you: I was part of the first cohort of SNA’s in Ireland to graduate from UCD’s national SNA training programme! Graduated 25th February, 2022

Lisa Young
Favourite movie: Mrs Doubtfire
Favourite drink: Red wine
Favourite holiday destination: Greek Islands
Superpower: The ability to see the good in people.
Favourite cake or pastry: All cake except chocolate!
What you wanted to be when you grew up: I still haven’t grown up!
Favourite school subject: English literature
Favourite novel: Lord of the Flies

Carmel Pinto
Favourite movie: Miracle on 34th Street
Favourite drink: Coffee
Favourite holiday destination: Portugal
Superpower: Getting everyone in the Christmas spirit
Favourite cake or pastry: Pastel de nata (Portuguese tart)
Favourite novel: A Christmas Carol
Any other fun facts about you: I love anything to do with Christmas

Fiona Murphy
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Superpower: Being kind
Favourite cake or pastry: Pink slice from the Home Bakery
What you wanted to be when you grew up: Ballerina/Actress
Favourite school subject: Art
Favourite novel: Little Women

Rachel Rice
Favourite movie: Pearl Harbour
Favourite drink: Coke Zero
Favourite holiday destination: Disneyland Pairs
Favourite cake or pastry: Home Bakery sweet cream cake
What you wanted to be when you grew up:
Favourite school subject: Geography
Favourite novel: Rachael’s Holiday by Marien Keyes
Special Education Teachers

Helen Clinton
Favourite TV shows: Derry Girls, The Inbetweeners, The Apprentice, Ant and Dec
Favourite drink: Coffee (AM), Red wine (PM)
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Superpower: Time travel
Favourite cake or pastry: Red velvet cake
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A Primary School Teacher or a solicitor
Favourite school subject: Gaeilge, Maths, PE
Favourite novel: Two for Stew by Laura Numeroff

Niamh O'Connell
Favourite drink: Diet coke
Favourite holiday destination:
Favourite cake or pastry: Cinnamon swirls
What you wanted to be when you grew up:
Favourite school subject: Science and PE
Any other fun facts about you: I wanted to be a midwife and work with mums and babies when I was little and I did actually qualify and work as a midwife before I became a teacher. I have helped lots of babies be born locally and have even ended up teaching some of them!

Debbie Lundy
Favourite movie: A Star is Born
Favourite drink: Gin and tonic
Favourite holiday destination: Austria for skiing
Superpower: Being happy
Favourite cake or pastry: Pink vanilla slice
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A teacher
Favourite school subject: Art
Favourite novel: I love too many to pick one

Emma Hennessey
Favourite movie: 10 Things I Hate About You
Favourite drink: Captain Morgan
Favourite holiday destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite cake or pastry: White chocolate chip cookies
What you wanted to be when you grew up: I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was 4
Favourite school subject: Gaeilge
Favourite novel: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Ciara Hanratty
Favourite movie: The Notebook
Favourite drink: Mint Milkshake
Favourite holiday destination: Santorini – anywhere hot and near the sea 🙂
Favourite cake or pastry: Chocolate fudge cake or chocolate biscuit cake
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A musician
Favourite school subject: Music, Art and English
Favourite novel: Where the Crawdads Sing
Class Teachers

Hannah Watters
Favourite movie: Hocus Pocus
Favourite drink: Tea
Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere!
Favourite cake or pastry: Croissant, Lemon Drizzle cake,
What you wanted to be when you grew up: Primary School Teacher
Favourite school subject: English, Maths, Art, SESE
Favourite novel: The Thursday Murder Club

Helena Stapleton
Favourite movie: Mary Poppins
Favourite drink: Water
Favourite holiday destination: San Francisco
Superpower: Optimism
Favourite cake or pastry: Chocolate brownie
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A primary school teacher. I told my teacher on the first day of school
Favourite school subject: English
Favourite novel: The Secret Garden
Any other fun facts about you: I love set dancing and singing outside school

Megan Treadwell
Favourite Novel: The Nightingale
Favourite holiday destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite cake or pastry: White chocolate chip cookies
What you wanted to be when you grew up: I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was 4
Favourite school subject: Gaeilge

Sarah Gray
Favourite movie: Mamma Mia and Cinema Paradiso
Favourite drink: Sparkling water, slice of lime and lots of ice!!
Favourite holiday destination: Greece and Italy
Superpower: Hypnosis – specialisation in hypnotising children to read
Favourite cake or pastry: Chocolate Eclairs with fresh cream and scones
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A primary school teacher
Favourite school subject: Maths, Gaeilge and Art
Favourite novel: Too many to mention but I do enjoy a variety of Irish classic literature the most
Any other fun facts about you: I can do a headstand! I can speak 4 languages and I can play some piano, tin whistle and flute

Sarah Jane Burns
Favourite movie: A Star is Born
Favourite drink: Strawberry Daiquiri
Favourite holiday destination: Perth, Australia
Superpower? Telepathy
Favourite cake or pastry: McCloskey’s Bakery’s finest
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A primary school teacher
Favourite school subject: Music
Favourite novel: PS I love You
Fun facts: My favourite cuisine is Chinese. I am very passionate about the gym and keeping fit. My favourite season is Autumn. My favourite ice cream flavour is mint chocolate. I love to play the violin in my spare time.

Louise Dillon
Favourite movie: The Mighty Ducks Trilogy
Favourite drink: Coke Zero
Favourite holiday destination: Dubai/anywhere hot!
Favourite cake or pastry: Sticky Toffee pudding
What you wanted to be when you grew up: Teacher
Favourite school subject: Maths
Interests: Badminton, Gaelic, Paddleboarding, Baking, going to the gym and Swimming
Any other fun facts about you: I lived in London for 6 years and Dubai for 3. I love hot weather!!

Aideen Carroll
- Favourite holiday destination: Alvor, Portugal. Also Paris, Bath, England and India
- Favourite cake or pastry: Eton mess or pavlova
- What you wanted to be when you grew up: I wanted to work for a circus as a child. That or be a farmer
- Favourite school subject: English
- Favourite novel: Shantaram
Teachers Currently On Leave

Megan Treadwell
Favourite Novel: The Nightingale
Favourite holiday destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite cake or pastry: White chocolate chip cookies
What you wanted to be when you grew up: I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was 4
Favourite school subject: Gaeilge

Louise Dillon
Favourite movie: The Mighty Ducks Trilogy
Favourite drink: Coke Zero
Favourite holiday destination: Dubai/anywhere hot!
Favourite cake or pastry: Sticky Toffee pudding
What you wanted to be when you grew up: Teacher
Favourite school subject: Maths
Interests: Badminton, Gaelic, Paddleboarding, Baking, going to the gym and Swimming
Any other fun facts about you: I lived in London for 6 years and Dubai for 3. I love hot weather!!














