Last Friday saw the official opening of a new playground and mini village at Athleague National School. The project, which began last February, was spearheaded by the Parents Association and the school’s board of management and received €21,644.17 from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the CLÁR programme, €700 from the Parents Association and €1,704.90 from the the Board of Management.
School principal Avril Egan detailed the hard work behind the project: “This project began way back last February when I approached members of the Parents’ Association regarding upgrading the existing play facilities in our school. Together with the Parents’ Association we set about applying for funding under the 2018 CLÁR programme to improve upon existing outdoor play and activity facilities and to create an outdoor classroom and mini village play area”.
Ms. Egan praised the contribution of Ann McNeela and Martina Hourigan throughout the application process as well as that of Denis Conneally, a grandparent who created a music station from upcycled materials. She also thanked school caretaker, Dominic James, parents who assisted during the project, local businesses who sponsored signs in the mini village and the Community and Enterprise section of Roscommon County Council.
Speaking on behalf of the Parents Association, Ann McNeela said she was thankful to see what had been considered a “pie in sky project” by some, come to fruition. She added that she was delighted to see the school thriving again and back in the heart of the community. She also thanked Roscommon County Council for their support and said she hoped the students would always take pride in their roots at the school.
Principal Avril Egan invited past-pupil and current Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. Ivan Connaughton, to perform the official opening.
Cllr. Connaughton described the new playground and mini village as “a fantastic amenity” and said the school had been transformed since he was a pupil there.
“As a past-pupil it’s very rare that the Cathaoirleach gets to officiate an opening at their old school. When I was here (as a student) there were no nets in the goals – you don’t know how good you have it! There were 100 students back then and now there are over 60 and the future is bright,” he said.
Cllr. Connaughton highlighted the contribution of Fr. Eugene McLoughlin before praising Athleague students for their recent letters regarding the proposed closure of the local post office.
Fr. Eugene McLoughlin then offered a blessing before the oldest and youngest students in the school, Holly Smythe and Ray Devine, planted a tree to mark the occasion.
