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28 Oct 2025

Kilkenny school bids emotional farewell to teacher whose legacy will live on

KCVS staff paid tribute to teacher with 42 years of dedicated service

Principal Cathy McSorley, Teachers, Eimear White, Elizabeth Thornton, John Collins, Cllr Deirdre Cullen, Chairperson of the Board of management and Vice Principal Deirdre Costigan

Principal Cathy McSorley, Teachers, Eimear White, Elizabeth Thornton, John Collins, Cllr Deirdre Cullen, Chairperson of the Board of management and Vice Principal Deirdre Costigan

Reporter:

Kilkenny People reporter

29 Aug 2025 11:32 AM

Email:

news@kilkennypeople.ie

Among the back-to-school excitement there was a special and emotional day at KCVS as staff gathered to say farewell to an esteemed teacher, colleague and friend, Ms. Thornton.
After an incredible 42 years of service to the school and to the KCETB, she now begins her well-deserved retirement.

Throughout her career, Ms. Thornton has been the very definition of honesty, loyalty, and dependability. She has been a trustworthy guide to generations of students, always leading by example and showing what it means to live with integrity.
As a teacher of both Mathematics and Geography, she inspired not only a love of her subjects but also a curiosity about the wider world. Her vast knowledge and her own deep love of learning have encouraged countless young people to open their minds, ask questions, and see the beauty of the world around them.
Among her colleagues, Ms. Thornton has always been a steadfast friend – loyal, supportive, and dependable in every sense. She has shared wisdom, kindness, and laughter in equal measure, and her presence has enriched the life of the school in ways too numerous to count.
It is no exaggeration to say that she has been part of the very DNA of Kilkenny City Vocational School – a constant, shaping force whose legacy will live on in the heart of KCVS for many years to come.

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While it is hard to imagine our school without her, we are filled with gratitude for all that she has given across more than four decades of dedicated service. On behalf of the entire KCVS community, we wish Ms. Thornton a long, happy, and healthy retirement.
May this next chapter bring her every joy, new adventures, and the time to enjoy all the things she loves most. Though she may be leaving the classroom, her impact will remain with her school friends always.

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