Students and teachers at Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighín went back to school with a spring in their step after the mid-term break as they returned to their new state-of-the-art facility, two years after the sod was first turned at the Ardnacloughy site on the Ballinrea Road.
The co-educational, multi-denominational post-primary school, which is under the auspices of Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB), is a community of learning excellence in an all-Irish speaking environment. The school offers a mix of traditional subjects and more modern subjects while also placing a huge emphasis on extracurricular activities.
Following a significant investment of €34.1 million by the Department of Education, the multi-facility campus will be the new home of three schools: Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighín, Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighín and SONAS Junior Primary School.
The overall campus will now accommodate over 1,000 pupils, with 500 of these in Cork ETB’s new Gaelcholáiste. The development will signify broadened opportunities for the families of the Carrigaline region and its hinterland.
The new post-primary school building is spread over two stories with learning, administration and ancillary spaces, as well as a PE hall and outdoor ball courts.
In addition to this, a significant amount of preparatory work was required in the area to home the new three-school campus with road improvement works, new site entrances, carparking, set-down spaces, landscaping, paths, signage and boundary walling all included as part of the development.
Ag labhairt inniu faoin scoil nua, dúirt Príomhoide Donnchadh Ó Cróinín:
“Is lá i measc laethanta é seo. Táimid ag fanacht ar an lá seo le breis is sé bhliain, agus anois tá foirgneamh den chéad scoth againn chun dul leis an árdchaighdeán teagasc agus foghlam a chuirtear ar fáil anseo. Táim an-bhuíoch do gach éinne a thug cabhair le seachtain anuas chun an foirgneamh a ullmhú don lá inniu. Idir daltaí, tuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí, bhí spioraid na meithle le feiscint go láidir.”
“There was great excitement in Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin this morning as the new school building opened its doors to the staff and students. The Gaelcholáiste has been located temporarily in Waterpark House for over 6 years, and with our student numbers increasing annually, the completion of this new multi-million euro facility on the Carrigaline Education Campus is a very welcome development,” Mr. Ó Cróinín added.
Cork ETB Chief Executive Denis Leamy said that Cork ETB was “delighted to see Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighín’s new building finally come to fruition.” He thanked the Department of Education for the substantial investment and their commitment to the improvement of educational institutions.
He added: “Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighín serves the second level education needs of the greater Carrigaline area and we wish all students and teachers the very best as they continue their wonderful work in such a modern and progressive facility. This new school building reflects the high standard of learning and teaching that takes place daily. Carrigaline is rapidly growing, and the development of these exceptional facilities will benefit the whole community”.
The new Gaelcholáiste building will accommodate up to 500 students, and has state of the art facilities such as a Fitness Suite, Sports Hall, a Multi-Media Room, a Library, as well as rooms to cater for all of the specialist subjects such as Art, Engineering, Construction, DCG, and Music and Drama.