The former Emo NS enjoyed a new lease of life this week when a new playschool opened its doors there for over 20 young pre-school children.
The wider Emo community rallied together to ensure the playschool opened in the village after it was announced that the playschool at The Rectory nearby was closing its doors after over 25 years.
Collete Rigney, who worked there, is now the owner/manager of the new playschool.
On Monday morning the playschool’s young scholars gave the new facility a resounding thumbs up.
The building has undergone a major spruce up and is now a bright, airy and welcoming premises.
Along with the impressive classroom, the children can enjoy time and activities outside in a natural garden/play area.
The opening of the playschool in the village brings to an end the campaign which began in earlier this year to keep one open in the locality.
“The parents were very pro-active in keeping a playschool in the community,” Ms Rigney said.
She said the local committee, including Fr Dooley PP, Cllr Tom Mulhall and Julia Booth, worked hard to ensure the playschool was retained in the village and open by September.
“We are delighted to have 21 children enrolled and only have one spare place,” Ms Rigney said.
They have also already had enquiries for places for the next three years.
A local playschool offers parents a chance to meet up and the young children make lifelong friends who they can embark on their later school journeys with.
One neighbour called in to the premises earlier this week and was astounded by the transformation of the building, where her own son had attended the national school many years before.
Emo NS
Around 30 students start in nearby Emo NS each year, so the playschool will be an important feeder to it.
Emo NS is actually in view from the play-school’s play area. “The church bell they hear at 12 o’clock can is the same bell the students in Emo NS hear,” Mr Rigney said.
The location is also ideal for parents who have older children attending the primary school.
The stone over the door of the playschool notes that Emo NS opened in AD 1889. A new chapter for the building now beckons.
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