Local woman takes INTO office position

Ms O’Connor will formally assume her new post from outgoing Deputy General Secretary Noel Ward later in the year.

Monaghan woman Deirdre O’Connor today (March 1) takes up the reins as Deputy General Secretary Designate of Ireland’s oldest and largest teacher trade union, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.

The move follows her election to the role in December 2020.

A former teacher at St. Mary’s BNS in Monaghan town for thirteen years, Ms O’Connor joined INTO head office in 2002.

Ms O’Connor was Assistant General Secretary leading the Conditions of Employment team prior to her election.

Ms O’Connor will formally assume her new post from outgoing Deputy General Secretary Noel Ward later in the year.

Ms O’Connor said she was honoured to represent teachers across the island.

“I’m taking on the role of Deputy General Secretary/General Treasurer Designate on a particularly important day, which sees many INTO members and hundreds of thousands of pupils return to school buildings.”

She added: “I’m acutely aware of the many challenges that lie ahead, and I’m ready to work with our General Secretary, the CEC, Northern Committee and INTO officials and staff to support and represent our members across the island.”

Ms O’Connor also paid tribute to the outgoing Mr Ward.

She said he had made an “enormous contribution” to the strength of the INTO during his tenure in office. “His steady leadership and genuine concern for members has been a guide for all of us in INTO.”

In turn, he wished Ms O'Connor the “very best” in taking over.

“She will find it sometimes a challenging job but generally a rewarding one too. Teachers are vitally important to society, an importance underlined during the Covid crisis, and INTO is important to teachers – I know that the union is in good hands as my role passes to Deirdre.”