Tag Archives: Knockanean National School

“WE’RE floating on air,” says Knockanean National School teacher Amy McEnnis as the school was named winners in this year’s Walton’s RTÉ Lyric Music for Schools Competition after wowing the judges with a performance in the National Concert Hall. Knockanean National School’s entry in the contest, one of Ireland’s foremost student music competitions, scooped first prize in the primary school category this week. The winning group, made up of members of the school’s music club and choir, arrived back at the school after their performance on Monday to a heroes’ welcome. “There were lights flashing from people’s camera phones and the school grounds were crowded, we felt like superstars. It was just so beautiful and we were really moved,” said a delighted Ms McEnnis. Knockanean NS was one of just six primary schools chosen from entries across the country to taken part in the grand finals of the competition in Dublin. To enter the competition the students, with the help …

The stage is set for a group of talented youngsters from Knockanean National School in Ennis who have qualified to perform at the National Concert Hall in Dublin early next month. The school has been chosen as one of just six national schools from all over Ireland to take part in the final of the Walton’s RTÉ Lyric Music for Schools Competition, which takes place in Dublin on April 8. Guided by teachers Amy McEnnis, Conor O’Loughlin, Tina Gavin and Louise Conheady, the young musicians and singers crafted a five minute long musical video together, which combines a number of existing songs and tunes to explore the theme of ‘Music Moves’. The school has a rich tradition in music and the arts and the successful group was made up of 63 students from the school’s music club and choir. According to second year teacher, Amy McEnnis, the children did much of the creative work for the composition themselves, with the …

A GAA club on the outskirts of Ennis is set to become the new home for a busy primary school. The creation of a ‘decant’ temporary primary school for Knockanean National School at St Joseph’s Doora – Barefield GAA Club has been given the go-ahead by Clare County Council. The granting of planning permission to the board of management at Knockanean NS for the decant school paves the way for the construction of a multi-million euro re-development of Knockanean. The new temporary school, to consist of seven prefabricated buildings, will be used during construction of a long awaited new school development which has already been given the go-ahead. The decant school will accommodate 12 classrooms, five SET Rooms, staff room, principal office and administration. Other works planned include roads, parking and a drop-off area. According to a report lodged with the planning authority the temporary accommodation is for an approximate period of two years while the new permanent school is …

DISCUSSIONS need to be had with landowners in a bid to find a solution to “major traffic congestion on a daily basis” at a popular school on the outskirts of Ennis, according to a local councillor. Knockanean National School has experienced a “huge increase of pupils” in recent years Councillor Pat Daly informed a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. He added that traffic issues have “been going on the last 30 years, and something needs to be done”. The councillor was told that while a design has been completed for an upgrade of the road, there is no funding available for the purchase of lands. Councillor Daly suggested that the council talk to the landowners with a view to acquiring land to allow for a widening of the road leading up to the national school from the Ennis side. He also asked would the council consider a Compulsory Purchase Order, adding that the local authority could make another application …

A CLARE mother has vowed to continue protesting against the introduction of masks for primary school children from Third to Sixth Class to curb the spread of Covid-19, writes Dan Danaher. Bernadette Kawara regularly stages a solo protest near the car park for Knockanean Primary School, which is located on the outskirts of Ennis. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Ms Kawara said she has been joined on occasions during her demonstration by another parent who is also concerned about this public health measure. She believes young children should not be forced to wear a mask as it reduces the supply of oxygen to their brains, which is vital for learning. She claims there was no proper risk assessment on the impact of wearing masks for young children and alleges there was a lack of media coverage about similar protests throughout the country. “Children need oxygen to learn. Wearing a masks reduces the supply of oxygen to the brain. I think …

Students in Knockanean National School’s second and third class visited St Joseph’s Hospital on Monday to finally come face-to-face with residents they had been corresponding with over the last few months. From April to June this year, as part of the Artist in Schools Scheme, local artist Rachel Macmanus with the co-operation of second class teacher Ciara Felle, third class teacher Tina Gavin, as well as Caitriona Crotty, the Activities Co-Ordinator for St Joseph’s, pupils had written letters to their ‘pen pals’ in St Joseph’s. The project was overseen via Zoom due to pandemic restrictions, with Rachel and the teachers helping the students write letters to St Joseph’s residents; on the other side, Caitriona Crotty read out the letters at the hospital and assisted the residents in replying to them. The scheme concluded on Monday when the two classes came to the hospital to show the murals that they had painted for their pen pals, featuring all the things they …

A CREATIVE cluster, involving three Ennis primary schools, culminated on Friday with the launch of a biodiversity app, writes Jessica Quinn. Cairde an Dúlra, which was developed by David and Colm Forde features artwork by children from St Anne’s School, Knockanean National School and Ennis CBS Primary. The three schools participated in the Creative Cluster, a two-year project that operated under the banner, Spraoi le Chéile. Biologist and environmental consultant, Éanna Ní Lamhna, was the special guest at the launch in John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road, Ennis. Artist, Ana Colomer, was the cluster facilitator for the project, which operated under the wing of the Clare Education Centre and their director, Ray McInerney. Ana explained that the biodiversity app has an orienteering theme and encourages children to learn about animals and trees. “It has two levels, which makes it inclusive and open to all. There are 10 locations on the app and on each location, the children have to enter a …

THE Office of Public Works has insisted that plans to re-develop Knockanean National School will alleviate traffic problems outside of the school after concerns about the proposal were raised by the local authority. The Office of Public Works (OPW) submitted a planning application for the re-development of Knockanean National School earlier this year. The plans include the construction of eight new classrooms, with an existing four-classroom block retained and integrated into the new build. Clare County Council sought further information on the new plans, and according to the response the OPW have insisted that just renovating the existing school would not “help in any way in alleviating the traffic ad hoc parking on the main public road”. It points out that the school currently has 11 classrooms and the proposal will result in just one additional classroom. “By moving the location of the building back further in to the site it creates space at the front and in doing so …