Changes to the School Building
There were few changes made to the school since it was built until 1960 when the single story extension facing the road was added. The school was a three-teacher school at that time. In 1981 a fourth teacher was appointed. The cloakroom upstairs (now a SET room) was used as a classroom until the first pre-fab room was built in 1983. When the fifth teacher was appointed in 1985, the play shed was used as a classroom pending the building of a new school. Mr Jimmy Farrell, Ballinkillen, donated a lovely site for the new school. However, this plan was abandoned due to Government cutbacks. In 1986 the second pre-fab was installed. Further renovations were carried out in 1990 which improved conditions for both teachers and pupils. The main building was re-roofed and all interior and exterior walls were painted. The work was carried out by Eamon Lalor, Garryhill, with heating contractors McCarthy/Blanchfield of Gowran and Byrne Electrical of Carlow at a cost of £56,000.
In 1999 the number of pupils on roll decreased and the number of teachers again returned to four. The classroom downstairs in the old part of the building became a general – purpose room for Learning Support, P.E., drama and storage and library facilities. In 2002 the DES gave sanction for a resource teacher to visit the school for eight hours a week. In the absence of any suitable place for the resource teacher to work it was decided to divide the general- purpose room so that both the Learning Support and Resource teachers would have a ‘room’ each and the remaining section of the room could still be used for meetings, speech and drama etc. although it was now rather small.
In 2007, the Board of Management and school community decided to pursue the upgrading of the school as the prefabs were not fit for purpose. The numbers were rising and there was a shortage of appropriate teaching and learning spaces. A collective of management (Chairperson and Principal), parents and pupils decided to stage a protest outside the Dáil protesting about the conditions in the school. In 2010, after many complaints and appeals to the Department, we were finally given approval to replace the two prefabs with two classrooms. Prefabs were positioned in the neighbouring field while the work was being carried out. It was difficult as we had a very long spell of bad weather, with the ‘great snow’. We were without running water for several weeks and water had to be brought to the prefabs via wheelie bins for the toilets. Bottled water was brought for drinking and hand washing. This work was completed in 2011.
Over the next summer, we replaced the carpets in the old school with marmoleum which was more suitable to busy school life.
Our school grew over this time and further applications were submitted and sought and granted in 2015. Tenders were sought for a big classroom and the work continued through the summer of 2017 and into the spring of 2018. Even though provision was made to extend upwards, the Department guidelines insisted that the new classroom would be built as a 'stand alone' classroom. As a result, we had to move the raised garden and small grassy area in the yard to make way for the new classroom. This new project was carried out by Debcon. The removal of the raised bed and trees in that space, meant we also had to arrange for the pole in that space to be moved to the field. This work caused some weakness to the back wall and a decision was made to remove the back wall between the yard and the school field altogether in the interest of health and safety, opening up the space - even though there is a fence between both properties. Additional funding was sought to join this classroom to the rest of the building. We were thrilled with the new classroom and the yard works.
Our numbers grew further and we were awarded a sixth teacher and needed more space. Plans were submitted over the 2021-22 school year, permission sought, and the Department decided we could build above our 'new' classroom. Tenders were sought and builders appointed yet again. and we began in Easter 2022. Changes had to be made to the side of the building to facilitate the new access. The door was moved and space made for the stair access to the new classroom. Work continued throughout the summer and we were at the pin of our collars to be ready in September 2023. Some people were in school way past midnight to be ready. It looks rather impressive with the new wooden cladding.
In September, Carlow County Council fulfilled its promise to build a bicycle area following our road safety application to improve amenities for travel to school.
Plans continue to maintain the buildings - we are looking to replace our windows in the old school and then to resurface the hard scaping around the old school.