Mercy-Presentation merger to cater for 500 girls

There will be an official launch of Galway’s newest secondary school – the amalgamated Presentation and Mercy colleges – but far away from the grounds of the chosen school site.

The new school, Our Lady’s College, will open next September on the site of the Presentation after a protracted process to decide where to locate the new institution.

In advance of that, an official launch and celebration of the merger will take place on Monday at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Mayor Frank Fahy, representatives of the steering committee, management of both schools, pupils, TDs and representatives from Galway City Council have been invited to attend. A combined school choir of 60 pupils will perform on the evening.

Catering for over 500 girls, the new school’s motto is ‘Excellence Together’.

“The school will allow for a broader curriculum and new programme options. Both schools are already cooperating closely in terms of the enhanced provision,” according to a statement issued by a PR company.

Dr Marie Griffin, CEO of CEIST, patron of both schools, stated: “The enhanced facility on the Presentation site will offer the opportunity to further develop the teaching, learning and holistic education of students into the future”.

Dr Griffin did not respond to queries from the Galway City Tribune.

The interim Board of Management for Our Lady’s College consists of parents, teachers and Trustee nominees, with Dr Pauline Logue of GMIT as chairperson.

The Presentation site was recommended by independent consultants in 2014 as it “requires the least amount of re-modelling of the existing structure and has the potential for expansion to accommodate a combined curriculum and additional teaching spaces”.

However parents and students of the Mercy were deeply unhappy with the decision, pointing to the deficit of facilities at the Presentation site such as a fully equipped gym, stage/concert hall, technology room, catering facilities and adequate parking.

The school uses the pool in NUIG and facilities at the rowing club and a local hall for its sporting needs.  Following a review into possible amalgamation in 2009, the Mercy site was assessed for its suitability while the Presentation Road site was not reviewed as it was unavailable at that time. After the Mercy site got the green light, there was considerable investment in facilities at the Newtownsmyth building.

The Government definitively ruled out funding a gym or technology room for the amalgamated schools, putting the onus firmly back on the patron to cough up for the facilities.

During a debate in the Seanad, the Junior Minister in the Department of Education, Damien English, said there was a policy in place to prioritise funding for teaching facilities.

He suggested that money raised from either the sale or rent of the Mercy building once it is empty could be used to fund resources such as gyms and computer suites.

Dr Griffin said earlier this year that students could be assured that facilities will be provided in the Presentation site to ensure they can access the full curriculum.  “CEIST, as patron, will engage with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the provision of any identified deficits in the site.”