Hallelujah – It’s celebration time in Tarbert
TEACHERS JOINED with students in a special Tarbert Comprehensive rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah at the close of a moving 40th birthday celebration on Tuesday night.
That’s how long the Comprehensive is in existence in Tarbert, in which time it has educated thousands of second level students in a catchment area that once included no fewer than three counties - Kerry, Limerick and Clare.
The 40th anniversary celebration was held on Tuesday evening at the school, beginning with a special ecumenical service given by Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne and Church of Ireland Minister the Reverend Keith Scott - both of whom planted a Mountain Ash after the service to commemorate the occasion.
“It was a beautiful ceremony and we were particulary delighted to have been joined by so many past and present students, including a number who were among the first students at the Comprehensive in 1973 and who now have children of their own enrolled here,” Deputy Principal Leila Moloney said.
When it opened, 280 teenagers comprised the Tarbert Comprehensive student body along with 18 teaching staff.
Despite the pressures on rural communities driving outward migration over the years, the school has managed to expand considerably to today’s figure of 628 pupils and 48 teachers.
“The school has become very popular, despite the dwindling population of the region, for our academic record, the pastoral care available here and a vibrant extracurricular programme across all areas,” Ms Moloney added.
Up until 2000, the Comprehensive also enjoyed the attendance of Clare students who commuted via the ferry until the opening of Kilrush Community School.