New Clonmacnois school extension officially unveiled

A new extension at St Ciaran"s NS in Clonmacnois, costing some €250,000, was officially opened on Friday last by Taoiseach Brian Cowen. The extension, was funded by €224,000 provided by the Department of Education and Science and a local contribution of €25,000, raised locally by the parents and board of management. The extension provides an additional classroom and two new offices for the principal and the school secretary, and a new basketball court. The Taoiseach noted that the opening of the new school extension was fitting as the school had been founded precisly 130 years previously - and the present school building was built in 1948, 60 years previously. And the Taoiseach added that the new extension provided a 'welcome opportunity to acknowledge the very important contribution made by the school to the education of the young people in the area over the years' And whilst happy to provide the funding of the school buildings, the Taoiseach said a good staff was also crucial for any school - and he paid tribute to the principal and staff of St Ciaran"s NS 'I am also glad to know that, as well as caring and encouraging the pupils, St. Ciaran"s sets great store on encouraging them to be reflective and mindful of others. A very good example of this is your Peace Garden, which commemorates the terrible tragedy of the Omagh Bombing of 1998,' he remarked. The Taoiseach also noted the St. Ciaran school crest - designed by a former pupil, Clodagh Egan - which shows a wonderful view of the monastic site of Clonmacnois. The Taoiseach also praised the sporting focus in the school and praised the current pupils, who had enjoyed Cumann na mBunscoil success in recent times. He concluded: 'The new extension testifies to the vitality and determined spirit of your school community.' The architect was Derek Coulter and the builder Martin Murray.