Meath's Helen will police her department with dedication, says former teacher

The new Minister for Justice was eager to dig deeper for more detail on topics she found interesting when she was a pupil at her local national school in North Meath, one of her former teachers said today. 

Mrs Rene Maguire, who taught the young Helen in 3rd and 4th classes at Heronstown National School, Robinstown, was commenting on her former pupil 's promotion to one of the State's top ministries. 

The school got its name from a colony of birds nesting in the trees on the bank of a stream "The Killary Water" at the back of the school. 

New Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD.

This is what Mrs Maguire said about her former pupil - "good attendance and attentive student; liked challenges as in table quizzes on core subjects and general knowledge; in Friday morning tests on curriculum areas she tried to achieve full marks or improve on previous results; she was eager to dig deeper for more detail on interesting topics; she completed her tasks efficiently and all were neatly presented." 

The retired teacher said that Helen McEntee's interest in politics emerged in secondary school at the Mercy Convent by leading the student council and later when she was Dáil assistant to her father Shane, the late Fine Gael TD.

The appointment of Meath East Fine Gael TD Helen McEntee as the new Minister for Justice has received a warm welcome in her home area of North Meath with congratulations coming from across the political divide and also from one of her former teachers. 

Fine Gael Cllr Eugene Cassidy said that the Minister had carved out a successful career, first as a junior health minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. It was a testament to her ability that she should be promoted. His party colleague Cllr Paddy Meath also congratulated the Minister. 

Fianna Fáil Cllr Sean Drew said that Helen McEntee's appointment was a great honour for her, her mother Kathleen and extended family and the people of Meath and was a testament to her hard work in the Brexit negotiations. 

One of the Minister's former teachers at Herronstown National School, Mrs Rene Maguire, said that while the ministry would be knew to her, she knew that she would manage her department with great dedication. During her time at the school, Helen liked challenges , always tried to achieve full marks or improve on previous results, she said. Mrs Maguire said that her former pupil was always eager to dig deeper in interesting topics.