Donegal ETB Appoints new Deputy Principal to Deele College

Donegal ETB has appointed Mr Shane McArt as a new Deputy Principal of Deele College, Raphoe. Shane will now join the Senior Management Team of Mr Joe Boyle, Principal, and Ms Carmel Mulligan, Deputy Principal.

The additional Deputy Principal post in Deele College arose as a result of the decision by Minister for Education, Norma Foley, T.D. on 01 March  to provide further supports to those schools catering for children and young people who are experiencing the highest levels of educational disadvantage. As part of the measures announced to tackle educational disadvantage was the allocation of an additional deputy principal in DEIS post-primary schools who had an enrolment in excess of 600 students.

Originally from Burt, Shane has been employed in Crana College, Buncrana since 2002 as a Physical Education teacher and more recently as Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Coordinator. Shane trained in St Mary’s College, Strawberry Hill and taught in London at the beginning of his teaching career before leaving to join the teaching staff in Crana College. In 2020, Shane graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology with a Masters degree in Learning and Teaching. He has been part of the middle management team in Crana College and has successfully led initiatives on supporting parents and students in the school community.

Deele College, based in Raphoe, has a school population of more than six hundred students, with a teaching staff of about fifty and another twenty support staff members, inclusive of sixteen Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

Shane said of his appointment, “Deele College is an exciting, dynamic school and I’m delighted to be part of this fantastic staff and management team. I look forward to working with the students of Deele College and supporting them on their educational journey”.

In congratulating Shane on his appointment, Donegal ETB’s Director of Schools Dr Martin Gormley said, “I would like to congratulate Shane on his appointment and I am very much looking forward to supporting him in his new role over the coming year. Shane brings a wealth of experience to the position arising from his time in Crana College and I have every confidence that Shane will make a significant contribution  to the senior management team in Deele College.”

Chief Executive Anne McHugh said, “I very much welcome the appointment of Shane to Deele College. Our Deputy Principals play a pivotal role within our schools as part of the senior management team and their contribution is central to our delivery of a quality, learner-centred education and training service across the county and its islands.”

Deele College is one of fifteen of the county’s twenty-seven post-primary schools under the management of Donegal ETB, the largest education and training provider in the county. In the previous academic year 2019-2020, over 5,000 students attended Donegal ETB post-primary schools.

Shane will take up his appointment over the summer.

Image of man - Shane McArt
Newly Appointed Deele College Deputy Principal Shane McArt.