“I didn’t know much very about the Teacher of the Year Awards at all. I remember watching one of the awards evenings on television, but that’s all. I think what happened was that the Catholic Schools Council here in Belfast wanted to nominate the whole school because of the way we managed during all the trauma of last September. When they realised that it was for individual teachers only, the staff sort of passed the nomination to me.

“It was certainly a horrendous time, this time last year. The staff said that I’d done a lot to help them through it but really, you know, we did it together. It was a real team effort, and we had inspiring leadership from the head. The teachers coped wonderfully, reassuring the children and then, as the weeks went on, reassuring their parents. We tried to set up as normal a routine as possible.

“The important thing was to keep everyone positive and upbeat. Laughter helped a lot. And we had wonderful messages of encouragement - letters and phone calls from all over the world. From the Protestant community, too, here in the city. So it was an uplifting time, as well. Still is, in fact. Even now, a year later, media and television teams still come to us - some from as far away as China.

“I’m Belfast born and bred. Right on the Falls Road, in fact. I trained at Coloma College in Kent, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then I taught in the Wirral, and then went to the United Arab Emirates to help to set up an international school. I was there for two years. I loved it.

“Then I thought I’d come back to Belfast for a short time, to see my family and friends. That was 20 years ago, when the Troubles were at their worst, and at first I thought, how in heaven’s name do people cope with this? Why do they stay? In spite of that, I’ve been here ever since. There would be something missing in my life if I left Belfast. Besides, I just love Ireland. I feel a great peace when I’m here. I think it’s God’s design for me.

“Anyway, I worked for a while in the Catholic schools peripatetic service, and then I took a master’s degree in guidance and counselling at Queen’s University. And in 1993 I came here, to Holy Cross, to look after special needs. Now, of course, I’m the special needs co-ordinator. I run the school’s reading recovery programme, and I’m also music co-ordinator. We put on such a wonderful play at the end of term - The Children of Lir. It’s an an Irish legend set to music. I was the accompanist for that, and I taught the singers.

“It’s a privilege, of course, being named for having this award, but it’s terribly nerve-wracking too. After all, I’m just representing the staff.

“But I know what I’d like to say to our Minister of Education if he comes to the national awards evening. I’d say to him, ‘Please, keep supporting teachers. It’s such a difficult job, especially in Northern Ireland. Give us time. Let the changes bed in. Keep listening.’

“For the rest, I’ve no regrets at all. In spite of living in a war-torn city like Belfast, I’m a very happy, contented person. I suppose I’m very lucky.”

Interview by Michael Duffy. The Teaching Awards 2002 national ceremony will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday, November 3. For further information and to register your nomination for 2003, visit www.teachingawards.com.