Delight in Kanturk as first sod turned on €1 million Coláiste Treasa extension
AFTER months of planning the first sod on the new €1 million Euro extension at Coláiste Treasa in Kanturk was finally turned this week - heralding a new and exciting era for the school.
In June of this year Cork County Council gave the green light to the planned extension, which is being funded by the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB).
There was a palpable sense of excitement at the school as work finally got underway on the project, which will incorporate two state-of-theart science laboratories and a fully kitted out home economics room.
The extension has been designed by Naas based architects and engineers Clark & Co, with Mallow contractor Joe Buckley Construction leading the build.
Coláiste Treasa has grown significantly from its humble beginnings in 1938 when it opened with just four classrooms and an enrolment book containing 60 names.
Today, the school boasts more than 500 pupils with the new extension, which is due to be completed in time for the new school year next September, comfortably accommodating growth in the student population.
Traditionally, science has been one of the core subjects at Coláiste Treasa, with chemistry, biology and physics among the most popular subjects students choose to study.
The strong link to the sciences was underscored last year after Transition Year students Eimear Murphy and Ian O’Sullivan beat more than 1,200 students from across the country to be crowned overall winners at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
The pair subsequently took their social and behavioural sciences project, ‘Alcohol Consumption: Does the Apple Fall Far From the Tree?’ to the EU contest for Young Scientists in Milan where they represented Ireland and their school, picking up yet another prestigious award for their work.
The current home economics is one of the original four classrooms, and while it has served the school well over the past number of years the newly upgraded facility will be a most welcome addition.
Speaking at the sod turning, which was attended by staff and the Board of Management, CETB chief executive Ted Owens said they were delighted to be working with the school on this “exciting and much needed” project.
“This school of inspiring teaching staff and talented students deserves facilities to enable them reach their full potential,” said Mr Owens.
“We were so thrilled to be able to help Coláiste Treasa with this endeavour and are very much looking forward to seeing this project come to fruition,” he added.