At the first day of the new school...( from left): Rev Philip McKinley with Ms Laura McGovern, Principal, Mrs Joy Smith, Mrs Joan Bruton and Mr Gabriel Beirne from the Board of Management and Mr Stephen Higgins, Parent Teacher Association. Pic Tom MCabe

'It’s been a long wait, but it’s great to be in our lovely new building'

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At the first day of the new school...( from left): Rev Philip McKinley with Ms Laura McGovern, Principal, Mrs Joy Smith, Mrs Joan Bruton and Mr Gabriel Beirne from the Board of Management and Mr Stephen Higgins, Parent Teacher Association. Pic Tom MCabe

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St Peteer’s NS, Dunboyne. PHOTO: TOM McCABE.

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Rev McKinley in the new hall Pic Tom MCabe

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Part of the sculpture by Fidelma Massey Pic Tom MCabe

Ann Casey

Published: Thu 5 Sep 2024, 12:15 PM

It was a historic day for Dunboyne last Wednesday when the 100 students of St Peter's National School moved into their new school building.

The school, which was founded 20 years ago, is the first Church of Ireland denominational school established since the foundation of the State.

School principal, Ms Laura McGovern had the honour of opening the school doors last week. Until now the school had consisted of a number of portacabins on the Maynooth Road, adjacent to St Peter's Church of Ireland church.

Ms McGovern said it was a great day for the school an the children were “over the moon”.

“There were great big smiles, it is bright and colourful. It was also the first day at school for our eight infants.

“The children had to get used to corridors and hallways - they weren't use to them when we were in the prefabs.”

The new building has five mainstream classrooms, a hall and a second central activity space, as well a sensory room, a nurture room, three learning support rooms and a beautiful library.

“It has been a long wait, but it is great to now have moved into this lovely new building,” said Ms McGovern.

St Peter's is the first new national school to be planned, built and opened by the Church of Ireland since the foundation of the State in 1922. The school is fully inclusive, with over 100 school children from many diverse nationalities and religious beliefs. The school also caters for children with special needs having two dedicated and purpose-built special needs classrooms together with a special needs play-area.

“It is a very inclusive school and the design reflects it with a whole wing devoted to additional needs. All needs and religions are catered for. This is something we worked towards and we are very proud of it,” said Ms McGovern.

Among those present for the first day in the new building were Joan Bruton and Joy Smith who were instrumental in getting this school off the ground 20 years ago and who are active on the school Board Of Management.

St Peter's is the parish school for the Dunboyne and Rathmolyon Group of Parishes, which did not have its own school prior to St Peter's NS opening. The school first opened with 23 pupils and two teachers in Dunboyne parish hall on 1st September 2004 and since then, prefabs were added to accommodate the growing numbers attending the school. The school now had 100 pupils and a staff of 18 teachers.

The official opening of the new building will take place in October.