Holy Cross College says goodbye to Principal Bradley

Paraphrasing Kenny Rodgers, Clare Bradley remarks, “As I was saying to staff, you have to know when it’s time to walk away – know when to run.”

She was, of course, jokingly referring to her retirement at the end of June.

“I think when you make the decision to retire, you have to bow out gracefully,” she Continues. “There’s nothing as bad as people saying, ‘is she never going to go?’ You take the decision because it’s time to go.”

Following four years as principal at Holy Cross College and prior to that, 36 years teaching both at the college and the former, St Colman’s High School, Clare – or ‘Mrs Bradley’ to her charges – says she knew in herself that the time was right. And yet, as she also admits, that won’t make the leaving any easier.

“I’ve been in Strabane for 40 years. I began in St Colman’s in September ‘82. It was the first job that I applied for after finishing at St Mary’s in Belfast and it was in at the deep end.”

Suggesting she had lived something of a “sheltered background” in Drumsurn, Co Derry, the fresh faced Miss Rafferty (as she was then prior to tying the knot with husband, Gerard) also admitted to a certain personal disorientation upon arriving in Strabane.

“In Belfast at St Mary’s, I had spent a lot of my time honing my social skills but I was handed a degree at the end of it. I was qualified for teaching or so I thought…

“It was challenges times anyway with the Troubles, of course. The lives of many of the staff and the boys were being impacted.

“Also, the strap was still in use… this was a real shock to me because I’d never seen a strap in use before. Corporal punishment was alive and well at that time.

“I learned a lot from other staff that year and at the end of the year… I said to myself, if I’m going to survive this, I’m going to have to buck up my ideas. And that’s what I did.”

‘HOLY CHAOS’

These lessons in determination and learning to swim at the deep end stayed with Clare for the rest of her teaching career most notably when St Colman’s was demolished and Holy Cross was born from the amalgamation of Our Lady of Mercy High School, the Convent Grammar School and of course, the aforementioned St Colman’s.

“In the late ‘90s there was this whole conversation about post-primary academic selection. I am a firm advocate of non selective education. I had seen boys and girls reaching the highest grades, who had been discriminated against by an archaic system and so I was delighted that Holy Cross was going to be an all-ability school. But the three years of the amalgamation of three schools wasn’t always easy. We were sometimes called Holy Chaos – and not without good reason.”

Admitting that she held no great inclination to become a principal, Clare describes as “the pinnacle of my career,” the day in November 2008 when she ascended to the position of vice-principal.

“I could not have been prouder,” she says. “It was the biggest honour endowed on anyone and I would spend nine very busy, happy years as VP. It was a time of straight talking and no nonsense.

“Then in 2018, I had no great aspirations to become principal but when the job came up my daughters suggested that I go for it and before I knew it, I was being appointed principal. The only thing was: The was no mention of having to deal with a global pandemic on the job description.”

‘WONDERFUL’

“Looking back, I had a wonderful career. I had the greatest social life. If there was anything that had to be celebrated, my name was on the list. I was involved with the shows, I went on Spanish trips and I made some lifelong friends.

“There were no better schools than St Colman’s and Holy Cross for a social life. It was a great balance with the world of academic and fun.

“My family – Gerard, James, Moya and Maeve – were also a very integral part of my career and as well, my childminder Mary O’Kane who supported and enabled me to work for so many years.”

In terms of what is to come, Clare remains opened minded. Although one thing is for sure: She won’t be diving into any other deep ends.

“I feel as though I’m part of the fabric of the building and it will take a lot of adjustment to step back from that. I will miss it hugely. But I know it’s my time.

“I do some work for CCMS and I do hope to keep working with the diocesan committee – it’ll keep me occupied and keep up some of the connections I’ve made.

“I’ve decided I’m not going to do anything for a while until I take stock. I don’t know if I’d take anything in particular on. I’m a member of Strabane Chamber Choir, which is a commitment in itself and I would like to spend a bit more time visiting my children. I might also do a bit of cycling.

“I don’t think I’ve retired to take on any major commitments, but if I get tired and board there are things I could take on.”

Emphasising that she was very happy to be passing the baton onto new principal, Ciaran Johnston, Clare is in no doubt the highlight of her career was – or in her case, the many highlights.

“The highlight every year was seeing the pupils achieve highly in their public exams and being able
to go and pursue their chosen careers.”