Next Wednesday, August 30th, will be an historic day in Roscommon Town with the opening of a new co-educational amalgamated school – St. Comán’s Wood Primary School.
The new two-location facility is an amalgamation of the Abbey Boys NS and Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary schools. Over 650 pupils will attend the new school on two sites (the former Abbey Boys NS and former Convent Primary).
The new school will be a Catholic facility under the patronage of the Bishop of Elphin. 84% of parents who voted on the proposed amalgamation voted in favour.
St. Comán’s Wood Primary School will have over 650 pupils and over 50 staff, including 41 teachers. It is thought that it may be the biggest such facility West of the Shannon, certainly in the Elphin Diocese.
The historic new arrangement will see boys and girls being taught from Junior Infants to 6th class in the one school (on two sites). Junior Infants-3rd class boys and girls will be taught on the Convent site and 4th-6th class boys and girls will be located the Abbey site.
Earlier this summer, 80 years of all-boys’ education at Abbey Boys’ NS was formally acknowledged, as was the 115-year period during which the Mercy Sisters have been involved in education in Roscommon town.
Dr. Úna Feeley has been appointed Principal of the new school and the appointment of a Deputy Principal will follow.
Úna Feeley was Principal of Scoil Mhuire, Roscommon since 2004, having been awarded a Masters in Curriculum Studies by Trinity College earlier in the year. In 2013 she was awarded a Doctorate in Education at Lincoln University, UK. She is a part-time lecturer and tutor on the post-graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership run jointly by the PDST and Maynooth University.
Speaking to the Roscommon People this week, Dr. Feeley said she is looking forward to leading the staff in the new school and to “harnessing the potentialities of this exciting co-educational initiative for the benefit of primary school pupils in the area.”
Dr. Feeley added: “I am delighted to be given the privilege of serving the St. Comán’s school community as principal. The merging of the excellent knowledge, talents and skills in two schools will ensure that the children get the very best education possible. I believe strongly in co-education and that moving forward, it is the best model for all in the community.”
The new principal said it is very important that a school is a happy place for all, “where children are encouraged to participate in music, art and sport.”
She added: “The motto of St. Comán’s Wood Primary School – ‘Live, Love, Laugh and Learn’ – coupled with advice from Pope Francis that we should spend our days meeting each other doing good, will guide practice in the school.”
