Opening of Development
a huge success!
Above: Dr Garret FitzGerald and
Frank Sowman, Chairman of the Board of Governors
The official opening of the new
buildings in the first three phases of our current
development plan took place Friday 26 April 2002 in the afternoon and was a tremendous
success, mainly due to the enormous effort put into the occasion by the staff
and pupils concerned. Thanks and well done!
The ceremony opened with the
Chairman of the Board of Governors, Frank Sowman, welcoming about 400 guests and
expressing the thanks of the Board to all who had been involved in the
development. He invited the guests to view the buildings after the unveiling of
a plaque to mark the occasion. The Principal, Brian Duffy, spoke about the new
buildings themselves and explained how, at this stage in the history of the
school, it was felt that the Arts, sport and practical subjects required new
facilities in order to contribute to one of the core aims of the school's
mission statement, the development of the full potential of every kind of pupil.
In introducing Dr Garret FitzGerald as the guest of honour, he drew attention to
Dr FitzGerald's role as a local TD in this area and to his enormous contribution
to Irish public life in a career which displayed the highest standards of
service, integrity and honour in his roles as a Senator, TD, Minister and
Taoiseach.
Dr FitzGerald drew considerable
laughter from the audience with a light-hearted speech about the type of school
he would choose today if he was in that position. He also commended the Irish
education system while pointing out that the outcomes from it were above the
European average while the spending input was far lower than the average.
The buildings were dedicated with prayers from
The Very Reverend John Paterson, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral. The President
of the School Council, Karl Caswell, thanked the Board for the new facilities
and two pupils from Form 2, Daragh Walsh and Rachel O'Byrne, described their
classes' time capsule project for the new buildings. Among many items placed in
the capsule representing life today was a bottle of single malt whiskey donated
by Irish Distillers for the students to open when they return for their 20 year
reunion! The ceremony concluded with an orchestral performance and guests
adjourned for refreshments and to view the buildings, displays and activities.
Above: Jane Hilliard, Head Girl,
and Mr M. Wisener, Director of Music
click on any picture to see it
full size
Above: Demonstrating
Computer Aided Design
Above: Mr R. Miller chatting with
Eoin Tippins, Kerrie Wynne, Eoin Maginn and Meabh Cryan
Above: Mr C. Cryan and pupil in the new Technical and Crafts Building
Above: Rob Smyth demonstrating jam
making in one of the new Home Economics rooms
Above: Cathal D'Arcy, Head Boy,
explaining Construction Studies techniques
Above: Elizabeth Donnelly
demonstrates baking in Home Economics
Our Millennium building
programme is now complete on schedule and within budget. The full programme is outlined below and
comprises a greatly
improved resource provision at the school for the 21st century.
Technical
and crafts block -
completed in February 2001 - new rooms for Construction Studies, Materials
Technology Wood, Technical Drawing, Home Economics and external storage
facilities. Entrance pictured below.
Above: Pupils using the new
Construction Studies facilities
Below: One of the new Home
Economics rooms
Millennium
garden - completed June 2001 - large courtyard
area in the centre of the school with attractive paving, raised flower beds,
shrub borders and trees, seating and sculpture feature, for the
use of pupils.
Changing
rooms and sports pavilion - completed
October 2001 - 6 new changing rooms, staff facilities, storage, 2 new shower
rooms, retaining existing redbrick facade
click on any picture to see it
full size
Above and below: the pavilion and cricket
pitch
Music
centre - completed
October 2001 - concert performance room, classrooms and individual tuition
rooms, red brick finish to blend with existing buildings (architect's
drawing below)
Below: the orchestra and choir
perform in the new Music Centre concert room
Archive
facility to house the Erasmus Smith archives (from
1650) and the school archives - completed October 2001
New bicycle
storage area - completed September 2001
These new buildings
have
enabled us to improve further spaces within the existing buildings, including the
provision of a Form 6 centre
and a language listening area.
From left: Mr S. Mason, Chairman of the
Finance committee; Mr R. Quinn, managing director of Robert Quinn & Son Ltd;
Mr P. Reddin , works foreman; Mr J. Davis, Administrator; Mr F. Sowman, Chairman
of the Board of Governors; Dr J. Reid, Chairman of the Grounds & Property
committee, Mr B. Duffy, Principal; Mr A. Murphy (of R Quinn Ltd) ; at the
handing over of the first three phases of buildings.
Phase 4 of our
facilities development plan was completed in 2004 and 2005, with the rebuilding
and re-equipping of our science laboratories,
up to fully modern standards.
Dr C.
Whitford and the three winners of the Salters Chemistry competition (TCD) in one
of the new Science laboratories
Phase 5
is currently in the planning stage and various options are under consideration,
such as the rebuilding of the library and front of school area, the gym changing
area, the astroturf hockey pitch, etc. The work which is eventually
decided on is expected to be undertaken in 2008.
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