A Ballybofey teacher has been named Primary School Teacher of the Year.
Joseph Gallinagh is now the Prinicpal of Glenswilly National School.
However it was the pupils of Lurgybrack NS who nominated the popular teacher for the title.
The pupils of the school praised Master Gallinagh’s creative and memorable teaching methods make him stand out from the rest.
As a teacher in Lurgybrack NS, Donegal he installed a camera in the class birdhouse so the students could watch the birds lay their eggs and also watch the eggs hatch.
His ‘Irish Bingo’ has also helped making learning Irish fun for his students. ‘To teach Irish, Master Gallinagh would play ‘Irish Bingo’ with us, which everyone loved and the winner would get a lollipop’ said one student in her nomination.
Master Gallinagh is also renowned among his students for his famous ‘Spelling Bee’ which he would host every Friday. He has also coached the school basketball, Gaelic and soccer teams during his time in Lurgybrack.
Master Gallinagh moved to Glenswilly NS in February of this year after an emotional send off from his school in Lurgybrack
“We had a big surprise Leaving Party and we all brought in €2 each to get him a voucher. We miss him so much and the kids in Glenswilly NS are very lucky to have him’ said one of his former students in her nomination.
‘Everybody liked Master Gallinagh and everybody wanted him as their teacher, we were very lucky to have him’.
Master Gallinagh worked in Kuwait and also Ballymun but Glenswilly is now home to the Donegal man who is now settling in well in his first year at Glenswilly.
Master Gallinagh receives a luxury weekend as well as a trophy and a book voucher from sponsors ABC Books.
