Tag Archives: Education

THE principal of Ennis Community College/Gaelcholáiste an Chláir has hailed the “greatly enhanced resources” available to students thanks to the school’s new €12.5 million extension. Minister for Education Norma Foley was the special guest last Friday of Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board (LCETB) to open the state-of-the-art development that has added 4,500 square metres of teaching accommodation to the school. The new building has three floors, with a range of specialist and general teaching spaces, along with an external area where students can play and socialise. As well as a significant number of new classrooms, the project also includes a new Science Lab, Home Economics room, Art room, Library and General Purpose Hall. Additionally, a full-size PE Hall, fitness suite and changing facilities have been delivered as part of the project. At the official opening the school’s principal Brian O’Donoghue said that it is many years since the idea for the extension emerged. “It began in 2010 when …

THIS week saw Clohanbeg National School announce that it will not reopen after the current school year ends. Clohanbeg NS first opened in 1879, and in a statement on Facebook this week it confirmed that its education will soon cease there permanently. “We are all extremely disappointed to announce that Clohanbeg NS is due to close in June. It has been a long struggle over the last few years to avoid this happening and keep the school open. “Unfortunately with a big exodus from sixth class this eyar our numbers are too low to continue as a viable school. We will be holding a ceremony to mark the clsoing of the school on Saturday, June 25. All are welcome. More details to follow.” School Principal Pat Comber said that the school will be amalgamated with Cree, and the ceremony marking the closure will be on the day after the school holidays begin. While the news was made public this week, …

A NEW Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class has opened at Doonbeg National School.  Called An Ghrian, it will provide children attending mainstream school with additional support throughout the school day. School principal Neil Crowley said, “We would have seen that there were children with these needs in the school and we wanted the best approach to support their needs as best we could.” He has no doubt that the An Ghrian will make a big difference to the children accessing it. “Oh, definitely. The supports are there to give them the best access to education required.” Mr Crowley said a lot of work has been done over recent months. “We are very excited about our new class and we have seen so much work completed for it by the staff over the last few months. “The Special Class Teacher and the team of Special Needs Assistants, have closely worked together to make our new class a welcoming and supportive learning …

EDUCATION and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) have released new market research which it says shows strong public support for the programmes its members deliver. The education and training programmes delivered by ETBs nationwide, include those presented by Limerick and Clare ETB. The findings show that over a third of people want education and training options that are free, co-educational, multi-denominational, and located close to their home. The release of the research coincides with the official launch of the organisation’s strategy statement – which outlines its ambitions for the coming three years. Representatives from Limerick and Clare ETB recently attended an online event, ‘Stronger Together: ETBs for the Future’, which explored the opportunities and challenges for the ETB sector in the delivery of education and training programmes. Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of ETBI, welcomed the findings and said it endorsed the organisation members’ offerings. He said, “Our research findings show the public’s preference for education provision that is community-based, free and …

A LACK of secondary school places in Ennis is causing “untold anguish” for local pupils and families. That’s according to Clare TD Joe Carey who has called on Education Minister Norma Foley to address the lack of secondary school places in Ennis “as a matter of urgency”. Deputy Carey spoke out after he was contacted by several distressed parents in recent days whose children have still not received placements in schools in the Ennis area. The local Fine Gael TD has repeatedly made representations on the issue in recent years. But he warned the problem has gotten worse and is creating “a most disturbing situation for pupils’ mental health and well-being”. Deputy Carey this week wrote to Minister Foley urging her to intervene in the crisis. He also attached a letter on behalf of 10 local primary school principals in which they expressed “very serious concerns” for the well-being of students who are still without placements. The deputy said, “The lack of secondary …

EIGHT Clare students have proven themselves to be top class and have been recognised for excellence with awards from Trinity College Dublin. The students from across the county are among 527 students to receive Trinity College entrance awards. The awards go to the student accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieves the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points. Receiving awards in Clare were: Archie Hugh Connolly, Rice College, Ennis; Creagh Duggan, Kilmihil Community College; Matthew Conor Hanrahan, St Flannan’s College, Ennis; Maria Healy, St Caimin’s Community School, Shannon; Aobh Keating, Coláiste Muire, Ennis; Leon Kerin, Killaloe Community College; Lara Mellet, Ard Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Ennistymon; Niamh Edith O’Dwyer, Ard Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Ennistymon. Students from every county in Ireland and 15 countries in the EU have been awarded special Entrance Exhibition Awards from Trinity College Dublin this year. Many former awardees have gone on …

IT’S a long way from West Clare to Papua New Guinea, but Fr John Glynn who is a long-time citizen of the island nation still holds his native Kilkee very close to his heart. Currently on lock-down until at least early June, Fr John, who is full of energy and drive, despite his 80+ years, told The Champion he is keen to return to normal daily life. For the retired teacher, that includes working with some of the country’s most vulnerable, as well as co-hosting a weekly one-hour radio show on the Catholic station, Radio Maria. Over his many decades in Papua New Guinea, Fr John was instrumental in setting up the WeCARe! Organisation, to work with the poor and disadvantaged who make up a considerable percentage of the state’s eight million citizens. Fr John described his adopted home as “an absolute paradise” in terms of its beauty, but a land of deeply ingrained inequality.“Illiteracy rates here are around 85%,” …

SCHOOLS may be closed, but the wheels on the bus of one Ennis secondary school are continuing to go round in support of the local community. Students at Rice College are carrying out their studies at home as efforts to control Covid-19 continue across the country. And while the youngsters are hitting the books from the safety of home, the school’s mini-bus is being put to good use. The school has begun a Community Reach Out, using the bus to provide support for the elderly and vulnerable. Principal Louis Mulqueen and Deputy Principal John Burns explain, “Thankfully all of our students are engaged in Remote Learning and we continue to support parents and teachers in ensuring ongoing teaching and learning as we navigate our way during this difficult time. Teachers are doing phenomenal work in this new educational landscape.However Management at Rice College are anxious to do what we can to assist our community in this very difficult time in …