When incoming principal of Moville Community College Anthony Doogan first surveyed his new school site back in 2001 it was just a green field.
This week after 22 years of loyal service to countless families in the Inishowen coastal town, Anthony announced his retirement.
The fact that the school has now broken ground on what will be another new school building which will house a record 600 plus pupils is testament to the ability, drive and enthusiasm of Doogan and his team.
His time as principal of the school may have passed in the blink of an eye.
But for the many colleagues from Donegal Education Training Board who shared tea and cake with the Ballyliffin man to mark his retirement, they must rightly wonder where exactly he gets his energy.
A huge advocate of both the GAA and the Irish language, Anthony’s career at Moville Community College was another chapter of a life of which there have been many pages.
Many may associate Anthony’s name as being part of the selection committee tasked with finding Donegal’s new GAA manager which ended this week with the appointment of Jim McGuinness.
But that association and love of the GAA was evident for many years, both for ladies and men’s football and he remains heavily involved with Moville GAA Club.
For a man who doesn’t like to be idle, it was no surprise then that during the pandemic he produced his own book of poetry, ’50 Dán’.
The collection of both Irish and English poems has been described as “deep and reflective, yet cutting and unapologetic.”
During his time at Moville Community College he was also asked to be part of a team which oversaw the development of the then new Junior Certificate Cycle.
Anthony will be the first to admit that this would not have been possible without his own backroom team of school deputies in Eamon Ryan, Des Newtown and Caroline Doherty.
Indeed, Caroline will not need to look far for any advice in her new role after she was appointed the incoming principal of Moville Community College.
But while he knew his colleagues had his back, Anthony could always depend on the support and love of his own family including wife Eithne, son Conal and daughter Moya when the front door closed after a challenging day or week.
Director of Schools with Donegal ETB, Dr Martin Gormley, paid tribute to Anthony’s many years of dedicated service to the education of so many young people across Donegal.
He said “Anthony leaves a tremendous legacy behind him as he retires. I remember ‘unveiling’ Anthony along with then CEO Sean O’Longain back in 2001 to the parents of Moville.
“It was like unveiling a new premiership signing and all there was was a green field site.
“The fact that ground has been broken on another new school for Moville and the school now has record numbers of more than 600 pupils enrolled is testament to Anthony Doogan and his ability.”