Bishop O’Reilly with Knockainey NS Staff Members Photo John Mortell
Knockainey School Opening
LANDMARK DAY FOR KNOCKAINEY AS SCHOOL EXTENSION IS OPENED AND BLESSED
It was a landmark day for the parish of Knockainey on Sunday when they extension to the local National School was officially opened by former Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. and blessed by the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Kieran O’Reilly.
Among the large atten-dance were the Deputy Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, Tom Neville TD, Cllrs Micheal Done-gan and Bridget Teefy, former clergy of the parish Fr Pat O’Gorman and Fr. Lanigan Ryan and member of the Pres-entations Order, Sr Claude and Sr Declan.
Marie Moloney, Princi-pal, welcomed everyone and thanked anyone who helped in the building and refurbishment of an extension capable of meeting the education needs of all the children in Knockainey and the surrounding areas.
Archbishop O’Reilly acknowledged the great work done in Knockai-ney and said it was a great credit to see that the school was completely paid for. On blessing the school, the Archbishop wished the tea-chers and pupils the very best in the future.
Fr. Liam Holmes, chair of the Board of Management, spoke about the new teaching facilities now in Knockainey school and paid tribute to all those who helped on the way. He said he was delighted to be involved in such a successful project.
Deputy Jan O’Sullivan thanked the people to Knockainey for inviting her and did the official opening with the oldest pupil, Aidan O’Riordan, and the young-est, Lucy Murphy O’Regan.
John McNamara, chair of the fundraising committee, thanked everyone for coming and paid special tribute to all the hard working committee who were involved in raising the money for the school. “€105,000 in total was raised,” he said, “and with a grant of €350,000 from the department without the fundraising group the school would not have been built or paid for.” He said three builders in three phases with two engineers planned, developed and built the school in under four years. It is paid for, which is a fitting tribute to the Knockainey people at home and abroad.
Knockainey school now has five mainstream class-rooms, two resource rooms, an office and an entrance hall with a staff of five mainstream teachers, one resource, one shared res-ource, four SNA, caretaker, cleaner and secretary with 128 pupils.
Bulgaden Castle did the catering for the day, and gratitude was expressed to those who gave fields for parking.
In conclusion, John McNamara said the school building ws not only for today’s children but for the children of the future. “When all work together we can achieve things mar a der an seanfhocal Ni neart go cur le cheile,” he concluded.