Last week we in the Allingham Committee received news we had all expected yet dreaded for some time. Here, Carl Duggan remembers our dear friend, Ann Drummond.
It was totally appropriate that both the Donegal and Galway flags flew proudly outside the home of Ann and Sean Drummond on the day of Ann’s wake. For though Ann was of Galway she had for the past 46 years been equally at home in Donegal and was proud to call Ballyshannon her home. Ann arrived here in 1979 after qualifying as a Home Economics teacher in St. Angela’s College in Sligo and started her career in the Sacred Heart School.
As well as being a wonderful teacher Ann was a mentor and role model for generations of students who were lucky enough to come under her influence. She gave them a great work ethic and organisational skills which would stand to them for life.
All this was done in her usual kindly manner which affirmed each person’s abilities. The many comments from former students in the online condolence pages bear this out very well. When Colaiste Cholmcille opened in 2001 Ann transferred her talents seamlessly across College Street to the new campus.
As well as playing a full part in all aspects of school life Ann. was also very involved in the social and cultural life of Ballyshannon and in the past number of years we on the Allingham Festival Committee have benefitted greatly from Ann joining us. A tireless worker. If Ann Drummond had a job to do you could be certain that it would be done and done without the slightest bit of fuss. She was a great asset to our organisation and we will miss her greatly from that point of view.
But we will mostly miss Ann Drummond the person. It is hard to imagine that we will never again see her arrive into a room with her ready smile and cheery greeting. We will miss all her ‘’little, nameless, acts of kindness’’ which were so much part of who she was. That is how we will recall Ann in the years to come.
Codladh sámh a chara uasal
We on the Allingham Festival Committee send our deepest condolences to Seán, Shane (Rachael), Niamh (Mikey), Ruairí (Kellyann), Donncha, Níadh and the extended Drummond and McDonagh families.
<Picture data-preserve-html-node="true" by Brian O’Droma of Ann seated in Allingham Arts Centre between Sean McGinley and Sally Stephens, surrounded by other members of the Allingham Committee>