Dana, Phil Coulter, Nell McCafferty and now comes Des Rainey, incoming president of the INTO. Derry is on the march. Rainey, a past pupil of the Christian Brothers' Primary School and St Columb's College in Derry, later went to St Joseph's College of Education in Belfast.

His first teaching job was in Rosemount Primary School. He is now an assistant teacher in Holy Child Primary school, Creggan, Derry.

Rainey believes that education is crucial to promoting a culture of tolerance and an acceptance of diversity north and south. The INTO, he says, "will have a central role in influencing educational developments in the new Assembly and the cross-border bodies".

Donal O Loinsigh, a native of Dingle, Co Kery, is to become vice-president of the INTO. The first teacher from Corca Dhuibhne to hold this office, he teachs in Bishop Galvin National School in Templeogue, Dublin.