Landmark day as sod is finally turned on St Patrick’s School

THE beautiful autumn sunshine was symbolic of the light at the end of the tunnel for the Board of Management, staff, parents and pupils of St Patrick’s Special School in Enniscorthy as the sod was finally turned on their new school build at Drumgoold.

Eighteen years have passed since the project was first mooted. The current St Patrick’s School is completely unfit for purpose, with damp and draughty prefabs on site and no green areas for the students.

It was confirmed at last week’s sod turning that local contractors Mythens aim to have the school ready to go in 18 months.

‘I’m delighted this is finally coming to an end,’ said a smiling principal, Lee Rogers. ‘I’ve only been here five years, but all in all this project is 18 years coming. There’s been such a big community input into getting us to this point, it’s fantastic.’

Recalling the lows of a year previously, and an intensive drive for funding, he said his own campaign began with a simple post on social media.

‘I was at home with my wife watching The Late Late show or something like that. I started to write my thoughts down and I thought to myself, this is wrong. Something has to be done about this. The post went up then and I think it really touched a nerve with some of the parents.

‘The reaction in the local community was fantastic.

‘It was something we shouldn’t have had to do in the first place really. You shouldn’t have to fight for basic educational requirements for any child.

‘But after all that, we’re really delighted to be here at this stage today and we look forward to moving into our new school in 18 months time, all going to plan.’

Mr Rogers thanked local TDs Paul Kehoe and James Browne, as well as Cllr Johnny Mythen, all of three of whom were there for the sod turning ceremony.