Education Minister Norma Foley had a busy morning in Kilkenny with three sod turnings and a host of people to meet as she visited four city schools.
First stop was at the CBS Secondary School’s new building site off the Granges Road/Dunningstown Road where our Edwina Grace got to chat with her about her mini local tour that lay ahead as well as the School Transport Scheme revision – hear that conversation here:
The gathering also saw the first ground-break of the day.
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Principal of CBS Kilkenny, Tom Clarke, spoke of the journey his school has taken to get their new building and noted that the project’s on target with a hope of officially opening in 2026 – hear him here:
Next, it was onto nearby Loreto Secondary School where students were celebrating their nineth senior post primary All Ireland camogie competition while also marking their International Day.
More than 50 cultures are represented within the student body and they were happy to outline their dress, food and traditions while also showcasing their latest sporting silverware.
KCLR caught up there with some of the students as well as their Principal Colm Keher who outlined an ask he had for the Minister …
Following the chats there, it was onto St Canice’s National School next door where a new two-storey building is under construction.
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Minister Foley spent some time touring the school prefabs and meeting some of the younger pupils.
It was onto the hall to address 3rd to 6th class pupils and visitors, Minister Foley put down her microphone to speak with the young people directly – she asked them what they thought her role as Minister was (and was told it was about visiting construction sites) while it seems there are “five and a half million’ students across the country!
An offer of a homework pass for whenever they wanted to trade it in was offered and agreed.
There was another sod-turn to round off the visit.
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Last official stop was at Presentation Secondary School where a new building is also under construction.
Students there were delighted to showcase their baking, sporting and creative talents as well as their academic achievements.
And our Edwina Grace also spoke with some of them as well as their Principal Shane Hallahan:
The Minister herself had been educated at both primary and secondary level by the Presentation sisters before returning to teach with them for many years and she praised the role the order and Nano Nagle had played in education circles.
Before the final sod-turning was carried out;
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Throughout the visit Minister Foley outlined how school is like a family with everybody having an important part to play. She spoke of the heart and spirit within their walls and pointed out that though there was likely to be some sadness at moving on from older buildings to newer ones, school was more than a building.
She was very well received at each of the stops, in particular by the pupils and students, with whom she spent considerable time chatting.
