Golden anniversary celebrations will be red letter day for Tipperary school
Big event for St Mary’s Central National School in Killenaule
The village of Killenaule will be en fête this Friday, June 9, for a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of St Mary’s Central National School.
Preparations are being finalised for a red letter day in the proud history of the area, when the parish will commemorate the foundation of one of Ireland’s first-ever major community schools.
Many eminent historians have described the 1960s and 1970s era as arguably one of the most progressive in the history of education in Ireland.
At the time it was constructed, St Mary’s in Killenaule was the largest new primary school in rural Ireland.
The successful merger of some neighbouring primary schools heralded the beginning of similar central school projects all over the country.
St Mary’s Central NS has gone from strength to strength down through the decades, and now enjoys a stellar reputation in the provision of primary school education.
The ceremony on Friday, commencing in the school at 6.30pm, will celebrate the life and legacy of the establishment with the sharing of stories, memories, photographs and entertainment.
The beautiful imposing school building in Bailey Street will be packed to capacity as former teachers, pupils and staff join current teachers, staff, students, parents and the community at large to commemorate its storied history.
A feature of the ceremony will be the launch of a memory book, containing written contributions by former teachers and students on their schooldays in St Mary’s.
To mark the auspicious occasion, Fr Jimmy O’Donnell, Parish Priest, Killenaule-Moyglass will bless the school and the historic ceremony.
School Principal, Cliodhna Breen, teachers, staff, pupils, parents and the organising committee are to be lauded on their work in preparation for this milestone event in the history of primary school education.
All are welcome.
There’s an old saying that “school days end, but memories last forever”.
Happy 50th anniversary to all at the school.