Eleven years in limbo for Mayo school's quest for a new home

Not all anniversaries are good ones.

This week marks the 11th anniversary of Holy Trinity National School's quest for their new school.

In 2010 the Department of Education recommended a new school after a Whole School Evaluation.

Despite having secured a new site themselves, six years after being put on the building list, Holy Trinity NS still languishes at the 'Project Brief Stage'.

No construction, no design, no progress.

The principal, Orla Brickenden, and board of management are calling on the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, to do the right thing and begin building without delay.

They remain adamant that their site (the old Scoil Phadraig on Altamount Street) is suitable for one school only and the attempt by the department to squash two schools onto Holy Trinity’s site would compromise the pupils in both schools.

“We are calling on the minister to stop procrastinating and to take urgent and immediate action”, said Eoin Holmes, chair of the Holy Trinity NS Building Committee.

“After 11 long years, we cannot see the reason for further delay and obfuscation. I am beginning to wonder if our being a minority ethos school is the reason.

"All we are asking for is to be treated fairly and equally – Minister please do the right thing”.

The 200-year old Holy Trinity NS is full to capacity and desperate to expand.

It is a lively, vibrant Church of Ireland school in the heart of the town which welcomes pupils of all faiths and none.

Its current enrolment is 62 pupils and it continues to thrive despite its facilities and building.

Children experience a rich, creative and child centred curriculum where all children and their parents are valued members of the school community.

Past pupils have a proud record and include some sporting stars in their number, Mayo senior footballers Fionn McDonagh and Rory Brickenden and Grace Browne-Moran, who is on the Irish Ladies Rugby Sevens squad.