Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board today celebrated the first day of classes at Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh’s brand-new school campus located at Clare Street in Limerick City. The multi-million euro custom-designed building marks a new chapter in the all-Irish co-educational community college’s history, providing students with a state-of-the-art learning campus.
The new 8,000m² school, which will accommodate 750 students, is located on the former Kerry Group site on Clare Street and involves an investment of more than €28 million by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, funded by the Department of Education’s Capital Programme for Post-Primary Schools.
Aoibh Hayes, Rhebogue and Sarah Madden, Limerick City, arriving for their first day of school at the new state-of-the-art Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh campus.
Commenting on the school’s first official day in its new home, George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, said: “As Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh enters this exciting new era, I know the school remains committed to its core values of academic excellence, creativity, innovation, the Irish language and culture and community. This new campus will very much serve as a catalyst for further success, providing students with the tools and resources they will need to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
The new campus boasts a range of cutting-edge facilities, including:
- Sustainable Design: The campus is designed to minimise its environmental impact and maximise energy efficiency.
- State-of-the-Art Technology: Every classroom is equipped with the latest technology to support interactive teaching, learning and assessment with a focus on each student’s personalised learning journey.
- Creative and Collaborative Spaces: The campus features numerous collaborative spaces where students can work together on projects, engage in discussions, and express their creativity.
- Extensive Sports Facilities: The campus includes a fully-equipped sports hall, a gymnasium, and outdoor all-weather playing fields to support the school’s strong sporting tradition.
Pictured from left: Kevin Ó Raghallaigh, Priomhoide, GCL; George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick & Clare ETB; and Donncha Ó Treasaigh, ETB Director of Schools and founding principal
Welcoming students this morning to the new school, Kevin Ó Raghallaigh, Principal, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, said: “We are incredibly excited to open our new campus, which will provide our students and staff with world-class facilities and resources to reach their full potential. Our commitment to all our students will continue to be at the forefront of the educational experience.”
The new school campus features seventy teaching spaces including five Science Laboratories, two Home Economics Rooms, an Art and Textiles Room, Graphics Room, two Construction Studies Rooms, a Technology Room, a Multimedia Room, together with a PE Hall, General Classrooms, Staff Room, a range of External Play Areas including an Astroturf playing space, ancillary and Support Facilities.
Also present as students arrived this morning at the new school, Donncha Ó Treasaigh, ETB Director of Schools, and founding principal of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, said: “This is a very special moment for Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh. When we began this journey back in 2006 with 32 students, we could have only dreamed of reaching a milestone like this. I want to congratulate everyone involved in making this dream a stunning reality and to wish Kevin and the entire school community all the very best in the years ahead.”
Students getting their first look at the new classrooms at the new Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh school campus.
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh has a distinguished reputation. Since it opened in 2006, students have consistently achieved outstanding Leaving Cert results. 90% of students progress to third level in Ireland, with a further 10% of students receiving scholarships in universities abroad including Europe and the United States.
The Design Team for the state-of-the-art new building was headed up by Thompson Architects and included Rogerson Reddan, Downes & Associates, Don O’Malley & Partners and Integrated Risk Solutions. The main contractor for the project was Limerick company Conack Construction. Work commenced on site in 2022 and was completed for handover this week.
To learn more about the school, visit gcluimnigh.ie
Rhys Collins and Laoise Phillips admiring the view on the outside link corridor of the new Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh school campus.
Rinne Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir ceiliúradh inniu ar an gcéad lá de ranganna ag campas scoile úrnua Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh ar Shráid Chláir i gCathair Luimnigh. Is caibidil nua é an foirgneamh nua saincheaptha i stair an phobalscoil chomhoideachais lán-Ghaeilge. Cuirfear na háiseanna is nua-aimseartha ar fáil do scoláirí na scoile ar an gcampas nua-aimseartha foghlama a bhfuil luach na milliúin Euro air.
Tá an scoil nua 8,000m², a bheidh ag freastal ar 750 scoláire, suite ar iarshuíomh Kerry Group ar Shráid an Chláraigh agus tá infheistíocht de níos mó ná €28 milliún i gceist leis ó Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir, arna mhaoiniú ag Clár Caipitil na Roinne Oideachais le haghaidh Iar-Bhunscoileanna.
Agus é ag tagairt do chéad lá oifigiúil na scoile ina suíomh nua, dúirt George O’Callaghan, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir: “Agus Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh ag druidim leis an ré nua spreagúil seo, tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an scoil fós tiomanta dá bunluachanna: sármhaitheas acadúil, cruthaitheacht, nuálaíocht, an Ghaeilge, an cultúr agus an pobal. Feidhmeoidh an campas nua seo go mór mar chatalaíoch le haghaidh tuilleadh ratha, ag cur na huirlisí agus na hacmhainní ar fáil do scoláirí a bheidh ag teastáil uathu le go n-éireoidh leo i ndomhan atá ag athrú de shíor.”
Daltaí sa seomra aclaíochta nua.
Tá raon áiseanna ceannródaíocha ar an gcampas nua, lena n-áirítear:
- Dearadh Inbhuanaithe: Tá an campas deartha chun a thionchar timpeallachta a íoslaghdú agus chun an éifeachtúlacht fuinnimh a uasmhéadú.
- Teicneolaíocht den Scoth: Tá an teicneolaíocht is déanaí feistithe i ngach seomra ranga chun tacú le teagasc, foghlaim agus measúnú idirghníomhach agus dírítear ar aistear foghlama phearsantaithe gach dalta.
- Spásanna Cruthaitheacha agus Comhoibríocha: Tá go leor spásanna comhoibritheacha ar an gcampas inar féidir le mic léinn oibriú le chéile ar thionscadail, dul i mbun díospóireachta, agus a gcruthaitheacht a chur in iúl.
- Áiseanna Fairsinge Spóirt: Tá halla spóirt lánfheistithe, giomnáisiam agus páirceanna imeartha uile-aimsire lasmuigh ar an gcampas chun tacú le traidisiún láidir spóirt na scoile.
Agus é ag cur fáilte roimh scoláirí ar maidin chuig an scoil nua, dúirt Kevin Ó Raghallaigh, Príomhoide Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh: “Táimid gliondar agus lúchair orainn ár gcampas nua a oscailt, a chuirfidh áiseanna agus acmhainní den scoth ar fáil dár scoláirí agus dár bhfoireann chun a lánacmhainneacht a bhaint amach. Leanfar lenár dtiomantas ár gcuid scoláirí ar fad a bheith ag croílár an eispéireas oideachais.”
Tá seachtó spás teagaisc ar champas na scoile nua lena n-áirítear cúig Shaotharlann Eolaíochta, dhá Sheomra Eacnamaíocht Bhaile, Seomra Ealaíne agus Teicstílí, Seomra Grafaice, dhá Sheomra Staidéir Foirgníochta, Seomra Teicneolaíochta, Seomra Ilmheán, mar aon le Halla Corpoideachais, Seomraí Ranga Ginearálta, Seomra Foirne, Áiseanna Tacaíochta agus Limistéir Súgartha Seachtracha lena n-áirítear spás imeartha Uile-Aimsire.
Saoirse Ní Chathláin Ní Eochaidh, Jennifer Ní Threasaigh agus Alannah Ní Eochaidh ag imirt cispheile sa halla nua.
I láthair freisin agus scoláirí ag teacht go dtí an scoil nua ar maidin, dúirt Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Stiúrthóir Scoileanna an BOO, agus príomhoide bunaithe Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh: “Is ócáid an-speisialta í seo do Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh. Nuair a chuireamar tús leis an aistear seo siar in 2006 le 32 scoláire, níorbh fhéidir linn ach brionglóid a dhéanamh ar chloch mhíle mar seo a bhaint amach. Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le gach duine a raibh baint acu leis an bhfís seo a chur i gcrích agus is mian liom gach rath a ghuí ar Kevin agus ar phobal na scoile ar fad sna blianta amach romhainn.”
Tá clú agus cáil ar Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh agus ó osclaíodh an scoil sa bhliain 2006, tá torthaí sármhaithe Ardteiste bainte amach ag scoláirí go seasta. Téann 90% de scoláirí ar aghaidh chuig an tríú leibhéal in Éirinn, agus faigheann 10% eile de mhic léinn scoláireachtaí in ollscoileanna thar lear lena n-áirítear an Eoraip agus na Stáit Aontaithe.
Bhí Thompson Architects i gceannas ar Fhoireann Dearaidh an fhoirgnimh nua, lena n-áirítear Rogerson Reddan, Downes & Associates, Don O’Malley & Partners agus Integrated Risk Solutions. Ba é Conack Construction an príomhchonraitheoir don tionscadal. Cuireadh tús leis an obair ar an suíomh in 2022 agus críochnaíodh í le haistriú an tseachtain seo.
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