Athenry school opens its doors to new era

Students and teachers at Presentation College Athenry made the move to their new €20 million state-of-the-art building at Ballygurrane last Monday morning – following years of campaigning by parents, staff and the community in the town.

The new building, opposite the Raheen Woods Hotel, provides top-class facilities for the school’s 1,100 pupils, and readies one of Galway’s biggest schools for growth in the future.

The move marks the beginning of a new era for the school that first opened its doors in 1947.

Galway East TD and Minister of State for Rural Affairs Seán Canney (Ind) said this extraordinary new building was as a result of tireless campaigning by those in the school community.

“The school’s opening is the result of a very intensive campaign over many years by parents, staff and the community in Athenry.

“The €20 million investment in the Presentation College school has seen many false dawns and many unfulfilled promises, but now the dream has become a reality,” said Minister Canney.

He offered his congratulations to all those who worked on bringing plans for a new school to fruition and said they could look forward to what would be a truly “modern educational facility”.

“I am delighted for the school and for Principal Cathal Moore and his staff. They have waited a long time for this day to come,” added Minister Canney.

Elsewhere in Athenry, work has commenced on the construction of a new facility for Clarin College – with completion due before the end of the year.

“Together these schools will meet the present and future demands for second level education in Athenry,” said Minister Canney.

“When Clarin College is completed, the way will be open to move ahead with a Gaelscoil campus for both a new national and secondary school on Clarin College’s current site,” he added.