One of the biggest national schools in the country has just been extended for the second time.
Minister for Education Mary O'Rourke TD performs the official opening of the extensions to the boys and girls national schools in Ballincollig, Scoil Eoin and Scoil Mhuire.
The newest part of the school consists of six modern classrooms which replace old pre-fabricated buildings previously located in the school grounds. The first school extension was in 1973.
Minister O'Rourke, parish priest Dr Carthach McCarthy and local politicians are joined by large numbers of parents and members of the wider Ballincollig community, where are were treated to performances of singing and dancing by pupils of both schools on the theme of European harmony.
The growing population of County Cork's biggest satellite town means that almost fifteen hundred children are taught here every day by a staff of forty-eight teachers.
A strong emphasis is placed on Irish language teaching.
The county’s commitment to education is something to be proud of as Minister O'Rourke acknowledges,
It's no wonder that Cork people are so informed, and so witty and so educated, when here there was such a tradition at that time, of education.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 September 1990. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
