Local TD and Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald has officially opened the new extension for Holy Family NS, Rathcoole. The event was attended by Bishop Eamonn Walsh and local parish priest Fr. Enda who blessed the new school, teachers, parents and locals from the community and Principal Colm Byrne.
Speaking at the opening Fitzgerald stated she was “delighted to join with the teachers, staff, parents and most importantly pupils on this joyous celebration.
“I also wish to pay tribute to your former principal Martin Hoban who kick-started and worked hard to secure this extension. We are celebrating this fantastic new extension....a wonderful, colourful, state-of-the-art addition to your school which includes additional classrooms, a library, computer room and special educational rooms. In the planning of this extension, it was ensured that all our children’s needs are catered for in the best possible manner.
“It was quite a number of years since the process for this new school building began. In this time, there were a lot of issues to overcome until you finally moved in at the end of last year, and I know that the school community has displayed plenty of patience and perseverance in that time. I am delighted that your efforts have now come to fruition. As Tánaiste and local TD I am proud of the fact that the Government I serve on was able to work with you to make this building an actuality.
“Today we are not just celebrating a new school building; we are celebrating Holy Family National School, which has developed enormously since its beginning in 1857. Although the school has been relocated several times over the years, it continues to grow and expand, illustrated with this new extension. The idea of a school is much greater than the building that houses it. It includes the school's history, tradition, staff and past and present pupils.
“This year’s many commemoration events for 1916, gave us all an important opportunity to reflect on our society. Thinking back to the wording of the proclamation, it declared that the Irish Republic would “cherish all the children of the nation equally.” It is significant and crucial then that children and school communities have been central to the commemoration events through the various programs run both locally and nationally.
She concluded, “I have the deepest respect and appreciation for all those who work with our nation’s children, to teach them, to enhance their learning, to support their all-round welfare and development. To all the teachers of this school, under the leadership of Colm, I say well done and keep up the good work.”
