School opens Memorial Garden as tribute to two beloved teachers

The pupils and staff of Athenry Boys’ School will enjoy the fruits of their green-fingered labour into the future – while honouring their past – after they unveiled their new Memorial Garden ahead of the summer break.

Because the garden commemorates two wonderful teachers who died in service in the past few years; Barbara Glynn from Newcastle, who died tragically days after the birth of her second child in 2014, and Janette Folan, who passed away suddenly five years later. Both teachers were good friends and beloved by pupils, members of staff and the extended school community.

The idea to dedicate a school garden to the memory of Barbara was first mentioned by her lifelong friend and colleague Jan.  Unfortunately, Jan’s sudden illness and death stalled the process and then when Covid came along the project was further delayed.

Luckily The Boys’ School were chosen to take part in the Creative Schools Project and as part of the process the school grounds and garden were given a makeover.

Pupils and staff poured their hearts into the venture and murals were painted, vegetable beds designed, new signage was erected, over 300 trees were planted in the school grounds and every class designed and planted their own vegetable and flower beds.

Each child in the school painted their own stone which was incorporated into the garden which the children titled “The Path of Peace”.

The newly formed Student Council were very active in every aspect of the garden and the children’s ideas were incorporated into the design.

At the end of last year an action day was held where every pupil helped to paint murals, design tyres, plant up pots of flowers, tidy the poly tunnel and chicken coop, plant trees and flowers and weed and tidy the flower beds.

The culmination of all this work was to be the grand opening of the school garden which would take place as soon as restrictions were lifted, and the visitors were once again allowed into the school.

That special day arrived last Friday week when the families of both Mrs Smith and Mrs Folan – along with the school’s grandparents and past members of staff – were invited to the school for the opening of the Memorial Garden.

School principal John Connolly gave a short speech welcoming all visitors to the school.  He thanked everyone for their involvement in the project and commended the whole school community for their involvement in the project which he said was “a labour of love”.

After the ribbon was cut by Mrs Folan’s mother Pam Lyng and Mrs Smyth’s two sons Andrew and Patrick, everyone was invited to view the school and the grounds and to enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Photo: Athenry Boys School dedicating their redesigned school gardens in memory of Jan Folan and Barbara Smith, two teachers who died in recent years. Pictured are Pam Lyng, mother of Jan Folan, cutting the ribbon on the new Garden accompanied by Andrew and Patrick Smith, sons of Barbara Smith. Also in the photo is the school’s youngest pupil Ethan Momoh along with current and former staff members.