GOREY CENTRAL’S NEW
RETIRING PRINCIPAL SANDRA HORAN WAS DRIVING FORCE BEHIND NEW ASTRO TURF PITCH AT SCHOOL
THERE was plenty of activity in Gorey Central School last Thursday with the opening of the school’s new all weather astro turf pitch.
Principal of the school Matt Bater said it was a fantastic addition to the facilities at the school.
‘As a school we are hugely privileged to now have such a wonderful resource available to us and we can’t wait to use the astro in many different ways.
‘I would like to thank our Board of Management and Chairperson Canon Mark Hayden for the huge support they have provided for the school in developing this wonderful facility. Secondly thank you to all of the staff here at Gorey Central who have already planned many excellent uses for the astro and will most certainly use the space to enrich our pupils’ lives for many years to come.
‘A huge thank you must go to the Parent Teacher Association, the parent body and members of the wider school community for the fabulous fundraising that took place over the last number of years. The support the school receives from members of the community is second to none.’
He also paid tribute to the students whom he said had provided everyone with the motivation to drive the project forward.’
In addition to the official opening of the astro turf pitch the school also paid tribute to retiring principal Sandra Horan.
Matt said Sandra had been the driving force and the mastermind behind the provision of the new pitch and said during her 22 years at the school she had done sterling work there.
‘Sandra has spent 22 happy years at Gorey Central School, firstly as a classroom teacher, then as deputy principal and, for the last 12 years, as principal. During her tenure as principal, Gorey Central School moved into our current renovated premises in 2005.
‘This was followed by three building extensions. The school garden was also renovated and an art project was undertaken when the beautiful murals in the hall were painted by the pupils. Also, during this time, the school pupil population grew by 30 per cent and our staffing population grew by over 50 per cent. This time has also seen great change in education but Gorey Central School has always been to the fore in taking on board these new Departmental initiatives and challenges.
‘It is with a heavy heart that Gorey Central School says goodbye to our retiring principal but Mrs. Horan has left a legacy that will be felt by many generations to come as it was for many generations previously.’