Leading secondary school in Offaly opens state of the art extension

The opening ceremony was led by Principal John Cotter, and the ribbon was cut before a large crowd of current and past pupils, parents, current and former staff, Presentation Sisters, local clergy and public representatives.

Mr Cotter spoke about the new facilities being opened and how the school was proud to be a leader in inclusive education, now home to two special centres and five special classes, unprecedented in the entire Midlands.

He paid tribute to the Presentation Sisters and all previous Principals who have worked hard to bring the school to where it is today.

Given the growth in student numbers he welcomed Ms. Dara Byrne to the school community, she joins the Senior management team as a second Deputy Principal.

As a past pupil, local and a parent, all are confident that she will fit in seamlessly and enhance greatly the work of the school.

He also spoke of the recent purchase of 3.8 acres of land by the school which will allow a further extension to proceed, one which he hoped would deliver all the remaining needed facilities for the school.

He thanked the Department of Education for its support and looked forward to finalising the scope of works for this further project.

The ribbon was then cut by former Principal Pauric Moran, and it was fitting that he formally opened the new extension as it includes a centre for students with Autism and during his tenure as Principal he spearheaded what was the first resource centre for students with moderate learning difficulties in the country which became the model for schools throughout Ireland.   

The bright new building contains a two classroom Autism centre which includes a multi-sensory room, a central activities area, a practical activities room and two classrooms, as well as two new science labs with a shared prep area, a state of the art home economics room, a textiles room, two extra general classrooms and social space.

Upon cutting the ribbon, a plaque was unveiled to mark the occasion, and Fr Whittaker and Fr Guinan performed the blessing.

Then everyone had the opportunity to walk the corridors and, for the first time ever in Killina, climb the stairs to view the rooms and facilities- the general consensus was just wow.

It was a wonderfully historic occasion, that points to a bright new future from September. A special thanks to the many that designed and built and decorated, but above all, thanks to Mr Moran and Sr Oliver, for their vision and foresight, what has made the school what it is today.