IT WAS a good news day in New Ross on Monday when a formal sod-cutting ceremony was held on the site of the town’s new primary school buildings in Castlemoyle.

The honour of cutting the first sod on the site was given to Minister Brendan Howlin and Junior Minister Paul Kehoe, both of whom have been very supportive of efforts to secure funding for the project.

Both Ministers congratulated everyone involved in bringing the project to this point and they also welcomed the huge positive impact the new school will have on future generations of New Ross children.

Min. Howlin said that despite the recession the school building programme had expanded with new schools coming ‘on stream’ around the country.

Those in attendance at the sod-turning ceremony were reminded by Monsignor Joe McGrath P.P. of the contribution made by the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy in bringing primary schools to New Ross in the 1840s and 1850s.

He also welcomed the fact that the two new schools would remember the names of two great altruists and educationalists: Catherine McCauley, founder of the Mercy Nuns, and Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers.

Also in attendance was Henry Goff, Chairperson of the Amalgamation Steering Committee.

He thanked everyone who had been involved with the project to date and complimented them on the great work that was done in getting agreement on the amalgamation of the CBS Primary, St. Joseph’s Girls’ and Michael Street National Schools.

Mr. Goff also recognised the contribution of ex-Junior Minister Sean Connick who he said was instrumental in securing the go-ahead on the project.

He thanked a number of past Principals for their contributions including Sr. Maureen Bailey, Deborah Murphy, Jack Stacey, and Cathal Mooney as well as the three current Principals in the schools concerned, Brian MacMahon, Elma Sutton and Niamh King.

Building work will now continue over the next 13 months and the new amalgamated schools will open their doors for the first time on September 1, 2016.