Shay Bannon, principal of Ard Scoil na mBraithre in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, is the president of the newly-launched National Association for Principals and Deputy Principals. He is pictured here at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin, last month with the association's two vice-presidents - Mary Hanley (left), deputy principal of St Caimin's Community School, Shannon, Co Clare, and Josephine O'Donnell, principal of Marino College, Fairview, Dublin. The new group has about 1,500 members who are responsible for the day-to-day managment of 750 second-level schools.