Monday April 29 was a hugely important day in the history of St Patrick’s BNS Portarlington.
Now to be known as Scoil Phádraig, Cúil an tSúdaire and situated on Canal Road, the keys to the amazing new building and grounds were officially handed over to the school management team that morning.
In attendance on the day were Bill Kavanagh DES, Michael Payne Operman Architects, Pat O Neill and Richard O Callaghan ABM Contractors, Eric Woodlock and Joe Dunne KSNPM and Diarmuid Wilson from M. and E. Consultants.
The school was represented by Fr. Tom Dooley – Chairperson of the Board of Management, Mr. Pat Galvin – Principal, Mr. Stephen Terry-Deputy Principal and Mrs. Mary Davis – Assistant Principal.
Speaking before the handover Fr. Tom Dooley complimented the team who had worked so hard on site for the past year to bring the whole project to completion.
The keys were then passed from ABM to KSNPM, the DES, Fr. Tom Dooley and finally Mr. Pat Galvin
The new school has capacity for 24 mainstream classrooms, eight resource rooms and an ASD base catering for 12 children.
The sports facilities are second to none with a fantastic hall, running track, three basketball courts and assorted play areas.
Speaking on the day Mr Galvin said that this development had been a long time coming but that it was fantastic to see the boys and their town finally getting the school they had waited for.
He urged the community to keep up the wonderful support-particularly with the Astro Turf fundraiser, Lip Sync, due to take place in the Heritage Hotel Killenard on Sunday night.
This week groups of pupils and teachers have been visiting the new school to get their bearings.
The boys have been playing a huge role in the move helping their teachers to pack and carrying their own books with them as they go.
The last full school day will take place in St Patrick’s BNS on Friday May 3 – an emotional end to a long career on Patrick Street.
On Tuesday the 7th of May the children will gather at the old school at opening time and walk through the town to their new school – weather permitting-to mark the first official day of Scoil Phadraig on Canal Road.
Thanks to Mary Davis for sending this report and some great pictures our way:
SEE ALSO – Laois County Council grant permission for new housing development in Portlaoise
