Big day in store at Laois school to celebrate major milestone

The 75th anniversary of the opening of Knock National School will be celebrated in style in October.

The school community is inviting local people to join them for a day of memories, fun, and community spirit on Saturday, October 18.

Events kick off with the completion of the final 5k of the 75km for 75 Years.

Join ten volunteers for the last 5km stretch starting at Spink Picnic Area - 2:30 pm and finishing at Knock NS. The same volunteers walked the Slieve Bloom Way on October 4 and 5 to raise funds for the parents' association and the Keeley D Foundation.

The aim aas to walk from Glenbarrow to Kinnity on day one (40.5km), and then from Kinnity back to Glenbarrow via Mockinew on day two-just an easy 29km.

On completion of the 5km, other events will begin. These include an open afternoon at Knock NS 2:30-5:30 pm which features a walk down 'Memory Lane'- photos & archive display.

A special booklet has also been produced to mark the 75-year milestone. It's called A Flavour of Knock School's Story (1950-2025). The day also features children's entertainment from 3:30 to 4:30pm. Tea, coffee and refreshments will be served through the day which concludes with evening Mass at Knock Church starting at 8 pm.

The volunteers who embarked on the Slieve Bloom challenge were: Amanda and Robert Miller, Deirdre McEvoy, Valerie Lalor, Martin Gorman, Willie Dwyer, Kathy Simms, Laura Shelly, Joey Shelley and Norah Maguire. They'll also lead out the 5km on October 18. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured: The team of volunteers to took on the Slieve Blooms Challenge.

Donations are welcome towards the fundraiser are welcome, 75km for 75 years. They can be made via 75km for 75 years on www.idonate.com

More below photo of the challenge.

Knock NS is a co-educational school under the patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. It has four teachers on staff; three in mainstream and one in Special Educational needs. There are approximately 60 children currently attending the school.

There has always been a great tradition of education in the Knock locality. As far back as 1849 there was a national school in the area. The school was built in 1950 and replaced a much older school.

In 1949, Fr Martin Brophy, who was the school manager, lodged £428 in the Hibernian Bank in Abbeyleix. £400 of this was the parish contribution to the building of the school and the balance was the cost of levelling the site. The overall cost was £3650.

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After almost a decade of asking the Department of Education to fund the provision of an extra classroom and General Purpose room, the Board of Management was informed in 2014 that a grant of €130,000 would be provided to build one 80 metre square classroom to replace the existing prefab. Various other funding sources were needed to allow construction to begin.

Finally, on August 31, 2015, 74 pupils and staff walked into a school fit for the 21st century,