Red letter day for Nobber school
Two ministers in sod-turning action at O'Carolan College
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Sinead Murphy of LMETB, Minister Thomas Byrne, Martin O Brien, CEO, LMETB, contractor, David Rogers of Ganson, and the first principal of O’Carolan College, John Holland, at the sod-turning. PHOTOS: SEAMUS FARRELLYImage 2 of 6
John Holland, Dunshaughlin, who was the first principal of O’Carolan College greets Ministers Thomas Byrne and Helen McEntee.Image 3 of 6
Four spades are better than one!Image 4 of 6
Past principals, John Holland, Dan Toole and John Grant.Image 5 of 6
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Principal Brian Goggins.After many false dawns and delays, the sod was finally turned on the new school for O'Carolan College in Nobber this morning (Tuesday) by not one, but two Government ministers.
The Minister of State for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with responsibility for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne, was joined by his Meath East colleague and senior cabinet minister, Helen McEntee, who is currently on maternity leave from the Department of Justice, to mark the start of work on the long-awaited project.
On her last engagement before starting her maternity leave last November, Minister McEntee unveiled the final design and virtual tour of the new school.
There were smiles all round to see the sod turned on the project, especially after the shock announcement by the Department of Education in March that it was stalling 58 building projects, including O'Carolan College, while funding issues were ironed out.
To the relief of the entire school community, the project is now back on track and builders will shortly move in to commence work. Much of the school is currently accommodated in dozens of prefabs, some of which are in a poor state of repair. The new school, first announced in 2014, has been a long time coming.
Extending to 7,000 square metres, the new school building will be three storey and include specialist rooms, science labs, arts and crafts room, home economics room, construction engineering rooms and a multi-purpose hall.