Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board welcomed the commencement on Tuesday 4th January 2022 of the multi-million euro development of a new school campus for Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh in Limerick City. The commencement was marked by Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh students at the site on Clare Street. Also in attendance was George O’Callaghan, ETB Chief Executive, along with the Chair and senior management of the school’s patron, as well as the Principal and the Chair of GCL’s Board of Management, the project design team and the main contractor.
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh is an All-Irish co-educational secondary college where all subjects are taught through the medium of Irish. Its current enrolment is 680 students and it is an inclusive, modern and dynamic school with a clear emphasis on creativity and innovation, with technology a central theme of its teaching and learning environment. Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh was recognised as the first Apple Distinguished School in Ireland and is regarded as a centre of leadership and educational excellence with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments support learning. Physical Education and sports also play a pivotal role in Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh with many talented athletes like Irish Paralympian Swimmer Róisín Ní Riain, attending the school.
Speaking at today’s commencement, Chief Executive, George O’Callaghan, said: “Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is delighted that work can commence on the construction of a new campus for Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh on this landmark site. The modern architectural design of the new school will provide a fitting backdrop to the excellent educational reputation that the Gaelcholáiste has earned.” He continued: “I would like to thank all those involved: staff, students and their parents, members of the Board of Management, and local public representatives for their commitment to ensuring that the project would reach this point.”
The new 8,000m² school to accommodate 750 students involves an investment of more than €20m by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, funded by the Department of Education’s Capital Programme for Post-Primary Schools. The Design Team for the state-of-the-art new building is headed up Thompson Architects and includes Rogerson Reddan, Downes & Associates, Don O’Malley & Partners and Integrated Risk Solutions.
Also speaking at today’s commencement, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh Principal, Kevin Ó Raghallaigh, said: “Today is a fantastic day for the school. The location of the new campus has been very warmly welcomed by parents and students given its proximity to the current school location, in one of the oldest parts of Limerick City. We are very much embedded in the local community, working closely with local businesses and services, and we look forward to continuing these strong links from our new campus. Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh takes great pride in placing our students at the centre of our school, to ensure that each student reaches their full potential. Students and staff work extremely well together to achieve this and our wonderful new ultra-modern campus will further strengthen this by providing state-of-the-art facilities.”
Located on the former Kerry Group site on Clare Street, the campus will comprise seventy teaching spaces including five Science Laboratories, two Home Economics Rooms, Art and Textiles Rooms, Technical Graphics, Construction Studies, Engineering and Multimedia Rooms, together with a PE Hall, General Classrooms, Staff Room and a range of External Play Areas, Ancillary and Support Facilities.
The main contractor for the project is Limerick company, Conack Construction, with work now commencing on site. Construction is slated for completion in 2023.
Chuir Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir tús inniu leis an bhforbairt ilmhilliún euro ar champas nua na scoile do Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh ar Shráid an Chláir i gCathair Luimnigh. Rinne mic léinn Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh an tús a mharcáil ag an suíomh ar Shráid an Chláir. I láthair freisin bhí George O’Callaghan, Príomhfheidhmeannach an Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir in éineacht le Cathaoirleach agus bainistíocht shinsearach phátrún na scoile, chomh maith leis an bPríomhoide agus Cathaoirleach Bhord Bainistíochta Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, foireann deartha an tionscadail agus an príomhchonraitheoir.
Is coláiste meánscoile comhoideachais Lán-Ghaeilge í Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh ina múintear gach ábhar trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá 680 scoláire cláraithe agus ag freastal ar an scoil faoi láthair agus is scoil chuimsitheach, nua-aimseartha agus dinimiciúil í le béim shoiléir ar chruthaitheacht agus nuálaíocht, agus an teicneolaíocht mar théama lárnach dá timpeallacht teagaisc agus foghlama. Aithníodh Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh mar ‘Apple Distinguished School’, an chéad scoil dá cuid in Éirinn agus meastar gur lárionad ceannaireachta agus sármhaitheas oideachais í le fís shoiléir maidir leis an gcaoi a dtacaíonn timpeallachtaí saibhre teicneolaíochta leis an bhfoghlaim. Tá ról lárnach ag Corpoideachas agus spóirt i nGaelcholáiste Luimnigh le go leor lúthchleasaithe cumasacha cosúil le Snámhaí Parailimpeach na hÉireann, Róisín Ní Riain, ag freastal ar an scoil.
Ag labhairt dó ag an tosú inniu, dúirt an Príomhfheidhmeannach, George O’Callaghan: “Tá ríméad ar Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir gur féidir tús a chur le hobair ar champas nua a thógáil do Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh ar an suíomh suntasach seo. Tabharfaidh dearadh ailtireachta nua-aimseartha na scoile nua cúlra oiriúnach don dea-cháil oideachasúil atá tuillte ag an nGaelcholáiste. ” Lean sé air: “Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a bhí bainteach leis: baill foirne, scoláirí agus a dtuismitheoirí, baill den Bhord Bainistíochta, agus ionadaithe poiblí áitiúla as a dtiomantas ag chinntiú go sroichfeadh an tionscadal an pointe seo.”
Beidh infheistíocht níos mó ná €20 milliún ó Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir, arna maoiniú ó Chlár Caipitil d’Iarbhunscoileanna na Roinne Oideachais, i gceist chun an scoil nua 8,000m² á thógáil. Freastóidh an scoil ar 750 scoláire. Beidh an comhlacht Thompson Architects i gceannas ar an bhFoireann Deartha don fhoirgneamh chomh maith le Rogerson Reddan, Downes and Associates, Don O’Malley & Partners agus Integrated Risk Solutions.
Ag labhairt inniu ag an ócáid, dúirt Príomhoide Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Kevin Ó Raghallaigh: “Lá iontach is ea é seo don scoil. Tá tuismitheoirí agus scoláirí tar éis fáilte mhór a chur roimh an gcampas nua agus a cóngaracht is atá sé do shuíomh reatha na scoile. Tá sé suite i gceann dena ceantair is sine agus is stairiúla i Luimneach. Is cuid lárnach den phobal áitiúil í an scoil agus oibrímid go dlúth le gnóthaí agus seirbhísí áitiúla. Táimid ag súil go mór an gaol láidir sin a choinneáil ón gcampas nua. Is cúis mhór bróid í do Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh go gcuirtear ár scoláirí ag croílár na scoile lena chinntiú go mbaineann siad amach a bhfuil uathu. Oibríonn scoláirí agus an fhoireann go crua le chéile chun é seo a bhaint amach. Cabhróidh an campas iontach nua-aimseartha agus na háiseanna is úrscothaí chun an obair seo a neartú.”
Beidh an scoil nua suite ar iarshuíomh Kerry Group ar Shráid an Chláir. Beidh seachtó spás múinteoireachta inti, lena n-áirítear cúig Shaotharlann Eolaíochta, dhá Sheomra Eacnamaíocht Bhaile, Seomraí Ealaíne agus Teicstílí, Seomraí Grafaic Theicniúla, Staidéir Foirgníochta, Innealtóireachta agus Ilmheán. Ina theannta sin, beidh Halla Corpoideachais, Gnáthsheomraí Ranga, Seomra Foirne agus réimse Áiteanna Súgartha Eachtraí agus Áiseanna Cúntacha agus Tacaíochta.
Is é an comhlacht Conack Construction ó Luimneach an príomhchonraitheoir ar an tionscadal agus tá tús curtha le hobair ar an suíomh. Meastar go gcuirfear an tógáil i gcrích i 2023.
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