The newly-appointed principal of Lucan Community College is Seamus O Neill, a Dubliner, who is "delighted, getting used to it and trying to fill the very big shoes" of Jack Harte, who has taken early retirement. Harte, an established writer at this stage, intends to concentrate on his writing full-time. His work to date includes Murphy and the Undertaker, Homage and a collection of short stories called Birds and Other Tails.

O Neill has been the deputy principal of the school under Harte since its foundation in 1987. There are 820 students in the school and in excess of 50 teachers, including those who are part-time. O Neill in later years has taught economics and been involved in "the IT side of things".