Press Release10/11/2011
From Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta [InaG] The Trust Fund for Irish Medium Education
Reference: Cutting the first sod of a new accommodation scheme for Gaelscoil Éanna,Hightown Road, Glengormley
Education minister John O’Dowd paid a visit today to Glengormley to cut the first sod of a new accommodation scheme for Gaelscoil Éanna. The new scheme which will cost £500,000 will provide the school with a system built accommodation scheme that will provide three classrooms, resource space, office and staff room. The scheme is being managed by Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta [InaG] / The Trust Fund for Irish Medium Education with funding provided by ex education minister Caitríona Ruane to tackle the poor accommodation in the Irish medium sector. The new building is due to be completed before St Patrick’s Day 2012.
Although the school was only set up in 2007 it has rapidly met the criteria for sustainability and is on course to becoming the fastest growing bunscoil in the north. Gaelscoil Éanna has flourished despite being in basic temporary accommodation because of the excellence of its staff and the vision of its parents and governors.
Pilib Ó Ruanaí from InaG praised the professionalism of those charged with the development of the school.
St Enda’s takes its name from the visionary educational project set up by Patrick Pearse and the partnership between St Enda’s GAA and Gaelscoil Éanna reflects that spirit which sees education as a holistic process connecting literacy and numeracy skills, with the arts, sciences, sport and culture. Pearse’s vision is more relevant now than it was a century ago.
This school has grasped the challenges set before it, in terms of the quality of education and the growing demand for places. This development is the beginning of new phase for Gaelscoil Éanna and means it will now have the facilities to match the excellence of its teaching. All the IME sector wants is to have the same opportunities to fulfil its potential as every other educational sector and I am confident that this school will soon rank amongst the very best in the country.
Contact Details and additional information
Pilib Ó Ruanaí,
InaG
077641 87698
Further information about InaG
www.iontaobhasnag.com
Maighréad Ní Chonghaile,
Principal Gaelscoil Éanna,
HightownRd,
BT36 7AU
Phone 028 90830088
Contact architects and project manager:
ARD Architects,
Belfast
028 90243454
Building contractor:
The McAvoy Group, Coalisland.
The Accommodation Fund of £2m was approved by Education Minister Caitríona Ruane in Feb 2010 to provide system built accommodation schemes that are fit for purpose for Irish medium schools that are in their viability period – that do not yet qualify for capital funding from the DE.