Proud day for all at Tenure school
A 13-YEAR BATTLE TO GET A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING ENDED ON A BREEZY DAY IN TENURE. HUBERT MURPHY WENT ALONG TO HEAR THE STORY OF HOW A UNITED COMMUNITY OVERCAME EVERY OBSTACLE TO SECURE A MAGNIFICENT NEW HOME
SOMETIMES the harder you work for some thing , the more you appreciate it. And boy, do the students, staff, parents and everybody else associated with Scoil Naomh Buithe in Tenure love their new school, a magnificent long term addition to the community and one that was many years in the planning.
Speaking at the official opening, principal Mary Conneely outlined the journey they had, culminating in a decision in 2009 to switch from an extension to the old school to a new build.
By 2014 they were at the shovel ready stage but were not on a building list - but then, in late December - an angel appeared!
‘Just before Christmas that year, ‘Angel’ Nash appeared and he had managed to get the minister to put us on the list. I don’t call too many politicians angels but I did with him,’ She exclaimed.
By September 2015, Fr Michael Hickey had blessed the site and the game was on.
Indeed, it was Fr Hickey who came along last week with deputy principal Anne Phillips to officially open the new building.
They soldiered together from the early days of the project, Mrs Conneeky stating that Fr Hickey’s ‘quiet, unassuming guidance’ a key to the project.
She was also full of praise for her deputy, Anne Phillips, describing her as ‘ the wind beneath my wings’ and remarking that she once described her as the one ‘ that makes me look good!’
Anne wrote the original letter to the department, asking for more space for the school - that in 2004.
After that, Anne said that the community ‘ team spirit’ that came to the forefront and everbody played a part.
Locals even walked to all corners of the parish to establish figures about future numbers for the school and if that could influence funding.
Meetings took place where members of the community offered their services to the school - builders and carpenters to architects. Funding was also forthcoming with at least one former staff member dressing up in a skirt and taking part in the womens mini marathon!
Ex principal Tony Callery was as dedicated as anyone to the cause and he popped along last week as well to soak up the atmosphere.
Anne said it was great to now see a ‘ living, breathing school with 214 children.’
And a lot of those children took to the stage on the day to show off their immense talents - a star studded musical performance from junior infants to 6th class.
Brian Harmon from the Board of Management spoke of the days when his granny went to school in Campbell’s House and in all four generations of his famly had gone to school in Tenure.
He praised the people who had contributed in the past and their work had been vital too.
He also mentioned Fr Michael Hickey, ‘a man with a permanent smile on his face for everyone’ and a key worker for the project.
In thanking the various architects and agents and the department, as well as Louth CC, Mrs Conneely spoke about her relationship with the builders MEIC and her meeting with a man who became synonymous with the project, Barry Butler.
‘He arrived into Tenure and was met by Hurricane Mary in full force,’ she laughed, saying she took a keen interest in the overall building scheme.
Fr Paddy Rushe blessed the new building and he wished all associated with the new Naomh Buithe’s school the very best in the future.
‘You have a great community here,’ he remarked.
HE ALSO MENTIONED FR MICHAEL HICKEY, ‘A MAN WITH A PERMANENT SMILE ON HIS FACE FOR EVERYONE’ AND A KEY WORKER FOR THE PROJECT