Offaly primary school unveils new state-of-the-art extension

KilleenNational School, Birr, unveiled their much anticipated, and long awaited extension on Friday last.

The new extension, which was two years in the works, boasts an 80 square metre classroom for 3rd and 4th class students with bathrooms for both boys and girls, a roomy sink area, and a storage area for pupils' bags and coats.

A new SNT classroom was included in the extension, as well as a new secretary’s office directly at the front of the building. The works also involved adding a new entrance with a ramp, resurfacing the carpark at the front, and adding solar panels in order to make use of more sustainable energy.

Several members of the school’s Board of Management and staff were in attendance, with the chairperson of the Board of Management, Mark McDowall, having the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open the extension.

Speaking beforehand he said “I’d like to give thanks to everyone here for joining us for this unveiling, it’s heartwarming to see so many from the community.”

Mark went on to thank several people and organisations for their help in the development of this project including Deirdre Bane from the Planning and Building Unit of the Department of Education, Billy Bourke from Malachai Cullen Consulting Engineers Ltd, Allen Kenny Construction, the previous Board of Management, who began planning for this project, as well as the current Board of Management, and Sean Fallon, the school’s caretaker, who has undertaken several projects within the school while construction was ongoing.

“This project was sorely needed to house the growing population of the school community”, he noted.

“Here’s hoping that this new facility will provide learning and support for many years to come.”

Also speaking at the event, School Principal Jessica Whelehan, thanked parents and staff and commented that this new facility “almost makes me forget we were without a school hall for three years."

She then offered a special thanks to Mark, stating that his “guidance and expertise has been invaluable.”