New extension to Ardattin school opened by bishop
Oldest and youngest pupils Jayden Waters and Sean Fitzgerald cut the ribbon to officially open the new extension at Ardattin NS, helped by principal Laura Vance and Bishop Denis Nulty Photos: Michael O'Rourke Photography
BISHOP Denis Nulty officially opened a new extension at Ardattin National School on 6 June, marking what principal Laura Vance described as a “treble opening”, combining the launch of a modern new classroom, a refurbished children’s library and the acquisition of additional grounds.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by councillors Charlie Murphy and John Pender, along with present and past board members and the wider school community, and was followed by tea, cake and ice cream for the children.
The extension, sanctioned in 2024 and built beginning early last year, replaces facilities that had remained largely unchanged since 1955. “It’s a brand-new classroom with wheelchair access and a bathroom because the two old classrooms in the school were what were traditionally there from 1955, with the fireplace still in the middle,” Ms Vance explained.
The Department of Education funded the new extension, while the board financed the removal of the wall between the two existing classrooms. “So, it’s now one big one,” said the principal.
While construction was underway, the school community used the opportunity to fundraise and refurbish the children’s library area. The new library space was officially dedicated to Mrs Kathleen Bolger, who taught at the school for 33 years.
The school also announced significant gains in outdoor space. “We got additional ground donated to us by the Murphy family and we acquired an additional piece from the council, which Charlie Murphy really helped us with. We’re now linked to the car park in Ardattin, while also getting extra ground,” said Ms Vance.
She paid tribute to the community effort behind the project, noting that much of the additional groundwork was carried out by volunteers. “Parents helping out with tractors, diggers, putting in fencing, getting filling – we couldn’t have done it without all the help locally.”
The next phase of the school’s development will focus on playground facilities and an outdoor classroom. A Michael English concert on 13 December in Tullow will raise funds towards that goal.
