Minister for Education turns sod on new Limerick school

THE VISIT of Minister for Education Norma Foley marks the “start of exciting times” at Mungret Community College according to school principal Liam O’Mahoney.

Norma Foley visited two Limerick schools last Friday, Castletroy College and Mungret Community College.

Minister Foley made the trip to Mungret for a sod turning ceremony on the site of the school’s new campus where construction got underway last October.

Mungret Community College which opened in 2017 has a student population of 800 and is currently struggling for space and awaiting the new campus to be completed to increase the capacity to 1,000 students.

“This is the first year we’ve had Leaving Certificate students at the school,” Principal O’Mahoney said.

“We started back in August of 2017 with 94 students in first year. Since then year after year we’ve built the school up to a population of 800."

“The construction of the new building is already moving forward at a great pace and we’re hoping that it will be complete in the next two years by June 2024,” Mr O’Mahoney added.

The new school campus has been designed by Healy Partners Architects on Glentworth Street in Limerick city.

Coolsivna, a construction company from Mountbellew, County Galway are in charge of the development of the new “state of the art” school campus building.

“We have a good campus currently but the new building is what we really need,” Mr O’Mahoney continued.

“The campus we’re on has been acquired for temporary use until the new building is ready.

“Part of our current campus of the old Mungret College has been converted and we’re using it as well as modular buildings at the moment,” Mr O’Mahoney added.

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Mr O’Mahoney said the entire school body is very much looking forward to utilising the new building for many years to come.

“We’re delighted with the way the school has developed into a school for the local community here in Mungret, Raheen and Dooradoyle.

Mr O’Mahoney also mentioned that the secondary school works closely with the local primary schools: Limerick Educate Together National School, Gaelscoil An Ráithín, St. Nessan's National School and St Paul’s National School.

“Minister Foley’s visit on Friday for the sod-turning marks the start of exciting times for education at Mungret Community College,” Mr O’Mahoney continued.

“We’re very proud of all our students, staff and all our local community who work with us to make sure we have a very modern educational experience,” Mr O’Mahoney said of the experience that Mungret Community College bid to provide for their second level students and staff alike.

Speaking to students, staff and members of the Board of Management, Minister Foley said: “It’s a great honour for me to be here and to have the opportunity to meet with all of you. Such a warm, warm welcome from all the student body that came out to meet with me. It greatly touched me. This is a great school. It has achieved so much in a short space of time and I think it’s just wonderful that this year we are looking at the Leaving Cert cohort who were the first students in the school. Thank you to the entire school community and your greatest resource in the school, your students.”

She continued: “The Department is very proud that we are providing the resources to you, that you will have new facilities, greater facilities, better facilities. This is a school that has been achieved out of great determination. I wish you the very, very best in all that you choose to do.”

The new 11,000 square metre school building will feature 37 General Classrooms, a 2-classroom SEN facility, 2 DCG Rooms, 6 Science Labs, 2 Art/Craft Rooms, 2 Home Economics Rooms, 2 Technology Rooms, 2 Multimedia Labs, a Music Room, 2 Textile Rooms, a Construction Studies room, an Engineering Room, a Library, an Olympic-sized PE Hall and Fitness Suite, multiple ancillary spaces, and extensive external areas including 6 Hard Play Courts.

Welcoming the Minister’s visit, Mungret Community College Principal, Liam O’Mahoney said: “We are really looking forward to moving into our new building. This school is all about our students. Minister, it was very important for us that it was our students Kate O’Brien and Billy Leenane who were the first to greet you today. They were part of the First Year group that started in the school in August 2017. We are here to support our students and want the best for them. With our new building we are looking forward to adding to the excellent facilities already provided to the school by the ETB.”