Teacher Irene Guilfoyle blows bubbles for Miriam Condren in the Pre-School ASD Unit (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) in St. Brigid’s NS in Bagenalstown
Pic: Michael O’Rourke.

A FOUR-year-old girl in Bagenalstown has made history by being the first female pupil in St Brigid’s National School history.

The school, which opened its doors in 1865, proudly welcomed Miriam Condron from Castlecomer into the pre-school autism unit last week.

And Miriam, the youngest daughter of Geraldine and Thomas Condron, had no bother settling in with her all-male classmates.

“She’s really enjoying it. She’s getting on great and doesn’t even notice she’s the only girl,” said her teacher Irene Guilfoyle; “they all seem to be settling well”.

“We have the only pre-school unit in the area and we were happy to bring her in,” explained Irene, who works alongside two special needs assistants.

Currently, six children are enrolled in the pre-school autism unit.

A refurbished classroom in the school is being used for the autism unit, but next year a new purpose-built facility will be able to cater for 12 children.

With the opening of this pre-school unit, autistic children in the Bagenalstown area can now avail of specialised education from pre-school right up to secondary level, with units also open in the Queen of the Universe National School and both local secondary schools.