Minister opens new €8m St Mary's School in Stranorlar

Minister for Education Norma Foley officially opened the new €8 million St Mary's National School at Mill Brae, Stranorlar on Friday afternoon.

The Kerry TD joined guests from the locality as well as its 50 or so staff members, representatives from local and national politics, school parents' association, other local national and secondary schools, past pupils and teachers, pre-schools, creches and community organisations for the occasion.

The school's spacious gymnasium hosted the formalities with the chairperson of the school's board of management since 2004, Frankie Quinn traced the history of the project and paid tribute to all who made the day possible and thanked the minister, guests, parents, staff and students for attending.

He also offered apologies from a number of people unable to attend the ceremony namely former principal, Fintan Keating as well as two TDs who had been to the fore of the campaign for the new school, Pat the Cope Gallagher and former education minister, Mary Coughlan.

Mr Quinn paid tribute to the local community for its continuous support for all kinds of support over the years.

Principal Eoghan Roarty also thanked all who made the official opening possible including former Minister for Education and local TD, Joe McHugh and current minister Ms Foley. He also talked about the sense of ownership the school enjoyed and not just in the school itself but throughout the local community.

"This school has a special place in the heart of the community. Schools are not just places where people of different ages come to work. Schools are places where we learn about, things, we learn about each other and the world around us. This is where we grow personally, spiritually and academically," he said.

Minister Foley spoke of her delight to be part of the school's celebrations that day and praised the pupils for their contributions and exemplary behaviour and the staff, parents and the wider community for their proactive and positive role in helping to make the school work so well.

"Every day in education brings its own demands and we are beyond fortunate in this country that we have people who are so invested in education and giving opportunities for students."

The pupils entertained the attendance with musical renditions in Irish and English including songs The Homes of Donegal', 'A Mhuire Mháthair', 'Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair' as well as a beautiful display of Irish dancing by eight pupils with assistance from teachers Aoife Flanagan, Bredagh Holmes, Sharon McGarrigle, Hilary McGinley, Maria McGee, Bridgeen McIntyre assisting the pupils.

The crowd were also entertained by a wonderful poem by past pupil Breda Bradley called The New School which painted a lovely picture of the walk the school community undertook last summer from the old building on Stranorlar's main street to the brand-new school at Mill Brae.

After an unveiling of a plaque to mark the opening, the presentation of a painting to the minister and the blessing of the building by Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian SJ, pupils ended the formal proceedings with representatives from each of the 30 nationalities at the school carrying their country's flag to the top platform while the pupils and indeed the general audience provided a rousing rendition of the song, 'He's Got The Whole World In His Hands'.

Afterwards, the minister mingled with guests and admired the colourful works of art pupils had prepared for the occasion.