Sod turned on long-awaited new school for Pres de la Salle, Bagenalstown
At the turning of the sod for the new Presentation de la Salle school in Bagenalston were: retired principal Gerry Watchorn, deputy principal Kathleen Burke, Fr Shem Furlong, Orla Bolger chairperson of the board of management, minister of state Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, George Darcy from CEIST, Eileen O'Neill, Fr Declan Foley, principal Michael Hickey and deputy Bridget Murphy
PRESENTATION de la Salle College, Bagenalstown, held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of construction on its new school building.
Principal Michael Hickey welcomed students, staff (past and present), parents, clergy, public representatives and former principals to what he called an important and long-awaited milestone for the whole school community.
Contractors BAM will work alongside the Department of Education and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) to deliver the project.
Mr Hickey thanked Carlow TD and minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor for her support and commitment, as well as his predecessor John Keane, trustees CEIST, the Department of Education, the NDFA, BAM and all those who worked behind the scenes over the years.
“Most importantly, today belongs to our students,” he said, adding that the new school would be a place where their talents would be nurtured, their ambitions encouraged and their friendships strengthened.
As part of the ceremony, several symbols, each with its own significance, were brought forward. These were organised by Mr Hourihane, Mr Power and Ms Connors with the assistance of their students.
Deputy head boy Rory O’Brien held acorns harvested last year from trees on the Royal Oak Road, where the school is situated, and germinated by students over the last 12 months. The seedlings will be planted on the grounds of the new school for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations.
Deputy head girl Sarah Devine brought forward a time capsule, to be buried on the school grounds. It contains items representing the school’s history including staff photographs from 1984 and 2026, a brick from the old school building, a lunch menu and pages from the 2026 school diary.
The first sods were turned by head girl Emily Jordan, head boy Tadhg O’Connor, minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, board of management chairperson Orla Bolger, CEIST representative George Darcy and principal Hickey.
Director of building at BAM Ireland, Darren Devane, said the sod-turning marked the start of an “exciting new chapter” for the school and the wider Bagenalstown community.
“The new school will provide a modern learning environment for 750 pupils, giving students and staff the facilities and space they need to learn, grow and thrive. We look forward to bringing this project to life and delivering a school that will benefit the community and will have a lasting legacy for future generations to come,” Mr Devane said.
Mr Hickey said the day was about laying the foundations “not only for a new building but for a bright future” for the college and hoped the new school would serve the community for many decades to come.
