A total of 1,400 students will enter the gates of the Holy Family Junior and Senior Schools at Aughnaharna in Portlaoise for the first time this morning.
It is fair to say that the modern state-of-the-art campus for both the junior and senior schools will certainly have the wow factor.
“We have had great schools which carried on for decades in inadequate facilities. It is wonderful to move here now. It will be a new whole lease of life for the pupils and the teachers to have such a wonderful facility available to them,” Monsignor John Byrne PP said.
“The children are going to be educated here in five star conditions,” he said.
Prefabs
A far cry from prefab accommodation which was in use for 40 years when the Sacred Heart School, Scoil Mhuire and St. Paul’s operated in the town centre, prior to the amalgamation.
It was designed and overseen by Portlaoise-based McCarthy O’Hora Architects.
“It will be a place of learning and a place where children are cherished,” Msgr Byrne said.
School principal Des Sutton said the new school has given them a renewed sense of optimism for the new academic year.
“All the staff are delighted to come back to such a fantastic facility,” he said.
As builders put the finishing touches to the school this week, school staff and former students gave their time voluntarily to ensure that the school is open on time.
Campaign
The opening of the new school is the end of a long fought campaign.
Msgr Byrne said he remembered successive ministers stretching back to Michael Woods talking about new schools for Portlaoise.
“A lot of water has flown through the Triogue since then,” he said.
As well as support from the local community, the parish hasn’t been found wanting either.
In addition to providing land for the school, valued at €1.25 million, the parish also provided €250,000 towards the costs.
“Other resources were provided by the Presentation Sisters and the Christian Brothers, who were very generous to us,” Msgr Byrne said.
In recognition of their support and contribution to education there will be a Nagle Hall and Blessed Edmund Rice pitch named after their respective founders.
The schools are certainly state-of-the art and very impressive.
Both the junior and senior schools have 24 classrooms, including resource rooms and the latest interactive teaching systems.
There is play yard space of around 2,000 sq metres as well as a shared all-weather astro-pitch between the senior and junior schools.
The junior and senior campus each has their own hall, which can also be used by the community outside of school times.
Traffic
A traffic-plan has been meticulously planned and is expected to work well.
“This is the same traffic which went through the town for the past decade,” Monsignor Byrne said.
Enda Hickey, principal of the junior school said the students beginning there for the first time won’t fully appreciate just how good the facilities are, as they will have known no different.
For the young students, and teachers coming from the old classrooms, the change today (Thursday) will undoubtedly be one that is almost hard to believe.
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