The new president of the INTO is Donal O Loinsigh, a native of Dingle.

He went to primary school in the local Presentation Convent and later in St Finian's NS, Baile an Ghoilin. After attending Colaiste Iosagain, Baile Mhuirne, O Loinsaigh went to St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin.

O Loinsigh taught in St Peter's BNS, Greenhills, Dublin, for eight years before moving to Bishop Galvin NS in Templeogue. Actively involved in the INTO since the early 1970s, he has served as a member of the union's central executive committee since 1990. He was nominated by the INTO to be the ICTU representative on the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism.

"Education has a critical role in promoting a culture of tolerance and acceptance of diversity," he says. As president, he hopes to ensure that schools are given the "necessary financial and teaching resources to cater for the growing challenge of cultural diversity in our schools."

Meanwhile, in a family affair, the new INTO vice-president, Joan Ward, is married to Noel Ward, who has declared his candidacy for the post of general secretary. It is widely believed that Senator Joe O'Toole will retire in 2002 and, so far, five candidates have declared an interest in the general-secretary post.