THE students, teachers and parents of Birr Gaelscoil na Laochra began a new era in their beautiful modular school on Tuesday morning, January 30. On a freezing cold morning everyone assembled at the top of the school's drive on Tullamore Road, and, led by a bagpiper, walked up to the building.
Speeches were made outside and then everyone entered, the adults commenting on what a positive occasion it was and what a fine building the premises is.
“You have a permanent, suitable home now after a lot of years and a lot of effort searching for one," said Cllr John Carroll. "Sometimes we thought we would never reach the end of the road and be able to enjoy a new home, a new building like this.
"We got a lot of support from a lot of areas, from many people, and we are very grateful to them all.
"There is still some landscaping to be done and when the landscaping is completed there will be an official opening later in the year.
"Today is for the children, the teachers and the parents. It's a special day.
"14 years ago four people, including myself, Denis Kelly, Stella O'Malley and Rosalind Fanning, met in Stella O'Malley's house (then in Eyrecourt) with the aim of establishing a Naíonra and, ultimately, a Gaelscoil, in Birr. Our dream was eventually realised and it's been realised very successfully in this fantastic new building. Stella and Rosalind are with us today, and I will ask them now to raise the tricolour to mark the occasion."
Following the raising of the flag, John Moloughney, a Piper from Templemore, played the National Anthem and the children then led the way into their beautiful new school.
The construction works for the new site on Tullamore Road began last June and were carried out by Vision Contracting from Cork. The site is six acres. After the ground works were completed the construction of the modular building itself began in mid October. The building consists of 29 modules which have been knitted together to form a state of the art, A1 rated permanent home for the school community.
Niamh Uí Chléirigh, Príomhoide, said she, the teachers and the pupils are very excited about this new chapter in their lives. The new school is located beside the proposed North Western Distributor Road (which should be constructed during 2024).
The Príomhoide said the new school will have a sensory area, playing pitch, basketball court and a play yard. There are four new mainstream classrooms, accommodation for a special class, a library, a kitchen for students to develop life skills and a general purpose room.
The project is being managed and administered by LOETB (the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board).
Until Tuesday Gaelscoil na Laochra was in temporary accommodation since it opened its doors in 2015, most recently in Sandymount Haven. The school is co-educational and multi denominational.
Cllr Carroll, who is Cathaoirleach of the Board of Management of the Gaelscoil, said the modular school is a modern carbon friendly building with the type of Building Energy Rating only dreamed about in the past. Cllr Carroll said the new building is “a hugely significant step in the school's development. A permanent home for Gaelscoil na Laochra means certainty for parents, pupils and staff alike." The Principal said the facilities in the new school will allow for growth and expansion. “We are already seeing a rise in enquiries for enrolments for September 2024,” she remarked.
When Gaelscoil na Laochra 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.
Gaelscoil na Laochra, which is under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta, prides itself not just on the education it delivers but on its broad and diverse range of extracurricular activities including music, dance, art, robotics, sport, chess, explorative engineering etc
The story of the foundation of the modular Gaelscoil premises began – in a way - at Oideas Gael in Donegal, because it was there that Stella O'Malley and Henry Thompson first met, which eventually led to Stella moving permanently to Birr.
Subsequently, Stella and her sister-in-law, Rosalind organised the first Irish language event in Birr, 'Portach', which, inspired by Oideas Gael's example, included chat and culture, guided tours, music and more. It was a happy success!
In 2007 or 2008, Denis Kelly from Lusmagh approached Rosalind about founding a Gaelscoil in Birr. Denis had been enthused after seeing the Gaelscoil in Tullamore. Cllr John Carroll had suggested to Denis that he should contact Rosalind. However, this initial attempt to get a Gaelscoil project up and running in Birr was, for a number of reasons, put to one side for some time.
In 2010 Rosalind and Denis resurrected the idea. They met with Stella and Cllr Carroll. Stella said she had been thinking of establishing a Naíonra. Biorra le Gaeilge was founded. After a few months Biorra le Gaeilge's leaflet was published stating its goals to found a Naoínra, Campa Samhradh and Gaelscoil. This leaflet was launched in Tin Tug Studio on Saint Brendan Street.
In the months following, the Noíníni Beaga Naíonra was founded and children were soon being taught through Irish. Stella made a great success of Campaí Samhraidh - summer camps in Birr - for several years. Rosalind organised the programme of events and gatherings for successive Seachtain na Gaeilge. (The now popular Ciorcal Comhrá at the library is being driven by Rita Frawley.)
Without all these steps from the beginning in 2007/8, Birr would be unlikely to have two excellent schools (the Naíonra in Syngefield and the Gaelscoil on Tullamore Road) educating through the medium of the Irish language today. Full praise should therefore be given to Stella O'Malley Thompson, Councillor John Carroll, Rosalind Fanning and Denis Kelly for being inspired and for working hard to bring their dream to fruition.
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