Page 12 - The Gonzaga Record 1990
P. 12
BRIEF PROFILE OF THE NEW HEADMASTER
Mr Patrick Potts is a Dubliner and a Northsider; a fact of which he is
particularly proud. He was reared in Clontarf where he received his
primary education at Belgrove BNS. From there he went to O'Connell
CBS for secondary education and UCD where he took a B.Sc.
After graduation he taught at St Fintan 's High School, Sutton, where,
in 1971 , he was appointed Vice-Principal. In 1975 he moved to Greendale
Community School, Kilbarrack, becoming Vice-Principal in 1977. While
at Greendale Mr Potts made his first contact with the Jesuits who are
eo-trustees of the school. It was the impression made on him by Fr John
Brady SL Chairman of the Board of Management in Greendale, and
particularly Fr M ichael Gallagher SJ in his role as school chaplain that
persuaded Patrick Potts that he would like to work in a Jesuit school.
In the meantime, however, he had seen another aspect of Jesuit education
through hi s involvement with students holding the Redington scholarship
at the Jesuit University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the Irish American
Partnership scholarships at St Joseph 's University, Philadelphia (also a
Jesuit foundation). From Greendale Community School Patrick Potts
moved to Kells, County Meath where he was the first Principal of Kells
Community School. He returned to Dublin on I August to become
Headmaster of Gonzaga. (It is noteworthy that he has returned to live
on the Northside in Howth).
The new headmaster confesses to an ignorance of the finer (and perhaps
other) points of ru gby - an ignorance which he must remedy. Over the
years his interests have been in motor sport - particularly motor rallying,
choral music and cooking. (This la st may help to account for his ample
waistline).
He claims to be too old to involve himself any longer in active motor
sport but retains a strong interest in choral music. (Like his predecessor,
Fr Peter Sexton SJ. he has been a member of Our Lady's Choral Society).
This interest he hopes to expand in Gonzaga which has an established
reputation for musical excell ence.
10
Mr Patrick Potts is a Dubliner and a Northsider; a fact of which he is
particularly proud. He was reared in Clontarf where he received his
primary education at Belgrove BNS. From there he went to O'Connell
CBS for secondary education and UCD where he took a B.Sc.
After graduation he taught at St Fintan 's High School, Sutton, where,
in 1971 , he was appointed Vice-Principal. In 1975 he moved to Greendale
Community School, Kilbarrack, becoming Vice-Principal in 1977. While
at Greendale Mr Potts made his first contact with the Jesuits who are
eo-trustees of the school. It was the impression made on him by Fr John
Brady SL Chairman of the Board of Management in Greendale, and
particularly Fr M ichael Gallagher SJ in his role as school chaplain that
persuaded Patrick Potts that he would like to work in a Jesuit school.
In the meantime, however, he had seen another aspect of Jesuit education
through hi s involvement with students holding the Redington scholarship
at the Jesuit University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the Irish American
Partnership scholarships at St Joseph 's University, Philadelphia (also a
Jesuit foundation). From Greendale Community School Patrick Potts
moved to Kells, County Meath where he was the first Principal of Kells
Community School. He returned to Dublin on I August to become
Headmaster of Gonzaga. (It is noteworthy that he has returned to live
on the Northside in Howth).
The new headmaster confesses to an ignorance of the finer (and perhaps
other) points of ru gby - an ignorance which he must remedy. Over the
years his interests have been in motor sport - particularly motor rallying,
choral music and cooking. (This la st may help to account for his ample
waistline).
He claims to be too old to involve himself any longer in active motor
sport but retains a strong interest in choral music. (Like his predecessor,
Fr Peter Sexton SJ. he has been a member of Our Lady's Choral Society).
This interest he hopes to expand in Gonzaga which has an established
reputation for musical excell ence.
10
