Taoiseach opens €6m school campus

Taoiseach opens €6m school campus


Anna-Marie Flynn

IT’s not every day the Taoiseach pays a visit to your school – but on Friday afternoon last that is just what happened to the pupils of Ballina’s St Nicholas’ and St Dymphna’s Special Schools.
The schools new €6 million joint-campus was officially opened by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen last week who took the opportunity to pay tribute to ‘pupils, teachers, staff and parents and all those who have worked behind the scenes for years to make this dream a reality.’
The state of the art campus at Convent Hill opened its doors last September on the former site of St Dymphna’s old school and visibly impressed the government leader as he enjoyed a guided tour of the extensive campus prior to the official opening ceremony.
“This is a real leap forward for everyone here. This school is full of new facilities, classrooms and specialist rooms which will enhance the provision of education for the pupils here. The Department has invested €5.7 million in this school and the money has been spent very well.  It has served to provide a total upgrade for two schools, each with separate identities, and has enabled both to carry out the excellent work they do in an excellent environment.”
The Taoiseach also extended his thanks to all those who fundraised and worked towards getting the project off the ground over the past number of decades, noting specific appreciation to those who donated land in the Mercy Sisters and the Walker family. “This has been a long time coming with lots of hard work and fundraising efforts along the way and that hard work, dedication and love has to be acknowledged here today.”
Speaking at the event, which also saw the campus blessed by Bishops John Fleming and Richard Henderson, Susan Clarke, Principal of St Nicholas’ thanked the Taoiseach for taking the time to officially open the school and acknowledged the staff, teachers and Special Needs Assistants who work with the pupils and contribute so much to the school society.
Maureen Quinn, Principal of St Dymphna’s, took the opportunity to praise the architects and construction team who worked hard to create ‘a school which far exceeded our initial expectations’.
Among the new schools facilities are classrooms with designated computer areas, libraries, resource rooms, multi-purpose rooms, spacious OT, Physiotherapy and Speech & Language rooms, modern kitchens and dining facilities, PE Hall, playing fields and basketball courts. During the day-long visit to Ballina, Brian Cowen also took in a visit to IT-based company Lionbridge which recently marked ten years in the town. He also dropped in on the site of Ballina’s new medical centre which is being headed up by former Fianna Fail politician, Tom Moffatt.
Local Minister of State, Dara Calleary, said he was ‘delighted’ to welcome the Taoiseach to his home town. “He is a regular visitor to the area himself, but the last time he was here in an official capacity was to address the Humbert School in August 2007 after the last General Election.”
This is a day of celebration for Ballina. Carra’s green flag is a credit to all involved and a huge achievement for the school.  Likewise, I am delighted to have the Taoiseach conduct the official opening of St Dympna’s and St Nicholas’ Special Schools, a day of huge importance for the schools’ students, their parents, the staff and the various boards of managements who worked so hard to make the new schools a reality,” he said.