Permanent home for Birr's gaelscoil

Birr's Gaelscoil na Laochra is poised to move to a permanent home with the news that the Department of Education has sanctioned a new school building.

It follows the grant of planning permission to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board for the new building at a greenfield site off the N52 by Offaly County Council on Wednesday.

The school has also confirmed that, under a new procurement framework set out by the Department of Education, works will begin soon and will provide a state-of-the-art building and a new permanent home for the school’s current students and staff.

The news was warmly welcomed by the school’s Príomhoide Niamh Uí Chléirigh, who acknowledged the work undertaken by the patron body An Foras Patrúnachta and the school's Board of Management over the past few years.

“I am looking forward to seeing the development take shape in the coming months. Phase 1 of the school will include fantastic facilities such as four new mainstream classrooms, accommodation for a special class, sensory room, a library, a kitchen for students to develop life skills, a sensory garden and much more. Phase two of the project will include a general purpose room for our school community.

“We are delighted for our current students, our future students, our parents and teaching staff as we look forward to this new era for our school,” she enthused.

Gaelscoil na Laochra has been in temporary accommodation since it opened its doors in 2015 and is currently based in Sandymount Haven.

When it opened, it was the first multi denominational, co-educational school in Offaly. The patronage and ethos of the school was chosen by the people of Birr and its surrounding areas following a consultation process by the Department of Education. A new school was promised; however, no physical school building materalised.

The approval by Offaly County Council, subject to 15 conditions, is for a building, which will include four classrooms, a Special Education Needs base, a general-purpose hall, and ancillary teaching space and services. There will be a new access road and an entrance off the new distributor road being constructed near Lidl to link the Tullamore Road (N52) at Woodlands and the Birr to Banagher Road at Cappaneale (R439).

John Carroll, Chairperson of the Board of Management has expressed his delight at the news. "We are jubilant today after hearing the news about the planning permission. It is a huge step for Gaelscoil na Laochra and for the community in Birr."

Deputy Carol Nolan described the news as “absolutely fantastic”.

“I want to commend the Board of Management, the principal, Cllr John Carroll, and indeed, the people of Birr, who have pusyhed for this for many years.”

She said she had raised the issue with the both the current and previous Ministers for Education in the Dáil.

The news meant “finally, the school has certainty and can plan”.

Citting the big demand for Gaelscoil places around the country, Deputy Nolan, herself a former Gaelscoil teacher in Laois, said it showed the interest in the Irish language was getting stronger and stronger.

There are still some places available for September 2023. Forms can be downloaded on our website www.gaelscoilnalaochra.com or they can be collected directly from the school in Sandymount Haven.