What a day we had on Friday 5^th March.  The new school building was officially opened with extraordinary panache by Hector Ó hEochagáin.

The school first opened its doors in September, 1995 with just 20 children and had long outgrown its temporary accommodation in the grounds of De La Salle Palmerston in Kilternan.  By the time we walked through the doors of our new building we numbered 267.

Hector visited every classroom and had a word for almost every pupil.  He even shared a cúpla focal with our Bolivian postman (but that’s a story for another day).  His inspiring speech extolling the possibilities of speaking Irish in every aspect of your life has left a real and lasting impression on the school’s community and our parents can be heard uttering their cúpla focal  a little bit louder these days.

Bunting fluttered in the spring breeze, the sun shone, the parents smiled and the children cheered as the ribbon was cut.   Pupils from every year were represented as 15 balloons were released into the blue sky.

As you all know by now, we have come to expect the most up-to-date technology in Gaelscoil Thaobh na Coille, but even we were impressed with Alan Binley and his team who managed to live-stream the whole event on the internet.  It was also relayed back into the classrooms so that nobody missed a moment.

Once inside, a concert, in which every child played a part was put on in the hall.  The children staged a great show with confidence thanks to the many hours of preparation and hard work put in by their teachers.  One group of traditional players have since gone on the steal the show at Feis Átha Cliath – congratulations to Muinteoir MacUilegóid, an Múinteoir Chambers and our traditional players.

When the formalities were over everyone was invited to a lunch.  Feeding 400+ is no mean feat but it doesn’t phase our parents.  Guests were treated to a delicious array of food.

The festivities continued in the Stillorgan Park Hotel where a gala dinner dance was held the celebrate this milestone in our history.