NAME: Monsignor Dan O'Connor OCCUPATION: Gemeral Secretary, Catholic Primary Schools Management Association Where are you from? Born in Millstreet, Co Cork. Moved to Dublin in 1960. What is your earliest childhood memory? Listening to Hospitals Requests on the radio. How many siblings have you? One Are you a close family? Yes Where did you go to school/college? Presentation Convent, Millstreet; St Joseph's Boys National School, Terenure, Dublin; CBS, Westland Row, Dublin; Holy Cross College, Clonliffe; UCD. Was there a teacher/lecturer who had a particular influence on you? Yes – Brother Gilmore, Principal, CBS Westland Row. Why did you become a priest? Because I felt called by Almighty God and I was greatly influenced by the priests in my home parish of Dundrum, Dublin. How did you arrive at this point in your career? I was appointed to this post by the Standing Committee of CPSMA in 2002. Do you welcome new models of patronage of primary schools? Yes. What does a typical workday involve for you? Dealing with the post, taking phone calls, and attending meetings. What do you enjoy most about your work? Meeting people. What do you like least about your work? Attending the Labour Court. What has been the most exciting moment in your career to date? Being the keynote speaker at the Catholic Education Week in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia. What is the best thing that happened to you in the past year? Being appointed a Monsignor. Are you a workaholic? No. What do you do to chill out? Gardening, swimming, reading history, going to concerts. Do you like living in Dublin? Yes. What plans have you for the future? Taking up a parish appointment in Dublin. Have you a pet hate? Yes – thunderstorms and cats. Have you a role model? Blessed Pope John XX111. What in the world would you most like to change? That there be more respect given and a better care system for the elderly in our society. Have you a message for members of Boards of Management? Being a member of a Board of Management is the best witness a person can give in preparing children to become citizens of Ireland and committed members of the Catholic Church. Have you a message for teachers? I wish to thank the teachers and principals of our primary schools for their dedicated care of their pupils, and for their ongoing commitment to the Religious Instruction formation of the children in their care. My message to teachers would be that they should take pride in the contribution they have made to Irish society, and their great contribution to the Catholic Church in Ireland.