A greater education choice in Tipp: Minister opens Community National School

The Minister for Education Norma Foley has officially opened Tipperary’s first Community National School during a special ceremony, attended by members of Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB), members of the school Board of Management, teachers, parents and pupils at the school in Nenagh last Friday.

Nenagh Community National School, located on the site of the former St Mary’s Junior Boys National School on St Flannan St, has become the first primary school in the county to deliver a co-educational and multi-denominational education programme, under the management and patronage of Tipperary ETB.

Minister Foley unveiled the school’s new signage during a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the Chairperson of Tipperary ETB, Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan; Tipperary ETB Chief Executive, Bernadette Cullen; Bishop Fintan Monahan, Diocese of Killaloe; Oireachtas members, Tipperary County Council Chief Executive, Joe MacGrath; Nenagh CNS Principal, John Gunnell; Deputy Principal, Bríd Walshe; past and present staff, members of the past and present Boards of Management, and students of the school. The reconfiguration of the 108-year-old former all-boys school was agreed between the Diocese of Killaloe and Tipperary ETB in late-2021, and Nenagh Community National School is currently in its first school year catering for pupils from Junior Infants up to Second Class, with Third Class students currently enrolling for 2023/’24.

Community National Schools (CNSs) are State, co-educational, multi-denominational primary schools underpinned by five core values: Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect. This school model has been developed in response to increasing diversity in Irish society, and a growing demand from parents for the provision of multi-denominational education. Nenagh Community National School is part of a pilot divestment project, the lessons from which will inform future projects.

OFFICIALLY OPEN

Minister Foley outlined her delight when officially opening the Nenagh school. “I am delighted to mark this landmark occasion of the official opening of Nenagh Community National School, the first multi-denominational primary school in Tipperary. The Schools Reconfiguration process, supporting transfers of schools in response to the wishes of school communities, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools across the country.

“I want to thank all those involved in the engagement process which has culminated in the creation of Nenagh Community National School. The school community now embarks on a new journey under the patronage of Tipperary ETB and I have no doubt it will continue to thrive.

“I wish the students every success and happiness today as they continue on their exciting new journey. I would particularly like to acknowledge the school staff for their passion and endeavour to educate the young people of Nenagh and the surrounding areas.”

EXCITING DAY

Chairperson of Tipperary ETB, Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan, congratulated everybody involved in bringing this project to fruition. “This is an exciting day as we welcome the Minister for Education to officially open the first multi-denominational Community National School into our community of schools across the county. The process that commenced in December 2021 has involved all stakeholders, Tipperary ETB members, the Board of Management, parents, staff and the community. This unity will continue to ensure a partnership approach to the future development of the school.”

Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Ms Bernadette Cullen, outlined the importance of this project for the future of education in the county. “This a very important day in the history of St Mary’s Junior Boys National School, for the students who attended the school down through the years and its long tradition of being at the forefront of educational development.

“The decision by Bishop Fintan, following consideration by the Board of Management of the various patron options, to reconfigure the school to a Community National School under the patronage of Tipperary ETB has provided the families in Tipperary with the first multi-denominational national school in the county. It’s a testament to Bishop Fintan’s leadership, and we look forward to supporting the school on its new journey.”

Principal of Nenagh CNS, John Gunnell, said he’s excited about the future of the school. “Our school is a very special caring place where we put the children front and centre of everything we do. We are very proud of our caring respectful school, our roots in the town of Nenagh, our heritage, and our bright future. We are a pioneering school, which is not afraid to make big decisions and take on new challenges in the best interest of our pupils and our community. We are the first CNS to open in Tipperary and the largest school to divest to date to ETB patronage in the country. We are deeply honoured to be chosen as the pilot school for transition to CNS in Tipperary.”