New principal takes up role at Coosan National School

A new principal is now in place at Coosan National School in Athlone.

Orla Fogarty was appointed to the position from Brideswell NS in South Roscommon, where she had served as principal for the past seven years.

Ms Fogarty took up her appointment at the helm of the 414-pupil Athlone school on Tuesday, March 10.

When contacted by the Westmeath Independent this week, the Drum native said she was leaving Brideswell with lots of fond memories but was also looking forward to the start of a new chapter in Coosan.

She succeeds Stephen Cunningham, who became principal of Coosan NS in 2022, following the retirement of long-serving principal Tom Flahive.

Mr Cunningham, a native of Screggan, Tullamore, concluded his role at the school on February 18, when he departed to become principal of Scoil Bhríde in Shantalla, Galway city.

* For more, see next week's Westmeath Independent