Welcome to our new staff spotlight section which highlights the many services delivered by Cork City Council on a daily basis.
In this edition of our staff spotlight, you'll get to know our school warden Patricia O'Mahony, who is a school warden for Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers.
Tell us about your job as a school warden?
I love being a school warden! It’s very rewarding & satisfying. There’s nothing too arduous about the job but you would certainly want your wits about you and need to be vigilant at all times. Traffic can be hectic during school runs and controlling parking on or around the school crossing can be challenging. But thankfully most people comply or move on when asked to. I’m stationed at a gaelscoil so I get to use the cupla focail which is nice.
How did you end up as a school warden?
I had never planned to be a school warden. I’d spent 22 years in the electronic/ supervisory management sector and had taken a career break to rear my two young children. While doing this, my children’s school advertised for a relief school warden. I thought to myself- what a lovely job to do. The part time hours were very attractive and I felt it was a job that I could do while still being there for my own children. I applied, and lucky for me I got the job.
What does a typical day involve?
A typical day for me is getting my own children ready for school and dropping them off early so that I can be at work with my gear on & at the crossing for 8.15am. It’s a busy crossing so I’m continuously going till school starts and the bell rings. Then it calms while I wait a few minutes for any late comers. When all the children are safe in school, it’s home for me for a quick cuppa and do all my own jobs that need doing. Then it’s back to the crossing for 1.50pm to see the Junior Homework club safely cross the road and the rest of the primary school soon follow. I head home at 2.20pm, just in time to collect my own children and get on with dinner and their after school activities.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of the job is certainly meeting & greeting the children each morning. The kids can be so entertaining when they give you little snippets of their own lives. They sometimes show me their art when they take it home or they might show me what book they’re reading. I can tell you that kids can and do say all sorts. Anything can come out of the mouths of babes at times! It can be so amusing!
What can make your job challenging at times?
The weather is certainly the most challenging part of the job, especially in winter when it’s lashing rain or freezing cold. But thankfully the gear that’s supplied to us is really good, it keeps us dry. It can also get really hot at times too & we still need to wear the long coat even in over 20 degree heat. That can be quite uncomfortable. I try my best to get to know all the children’s names, that can take a while especially in September when all the new little junior infants start, that gives me a challenge.
What advice would you give your younger self?
If I could give my younger self advice I’d say…..pick something that gets you out of bed in the morning and you actually enjoy. Your life will change when you get your first job, again when you have kids and again when you’re close to retiring. Different stages will require different management, so just do what suits your needs & makes you happy.
