This article is from page 102 of the 2008-09-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 102 JPG
SUSUS) eam sce liernemmOvmReol(cleye-I(ermen St. Michael’s Community College, Kilmihil last Friday as staff and stu- dents marked the 7Oth anniversary of the establishment of second level education in Kilmihil in 1938. Among the attendance was local man Francie O’ Leary who was one
of the many workers who gave of their labour voluntarily in 1938 to help build the school.
As School Principal Helena Keane recalled in her speech, the building of the original Vocational School in 1938 was a unique partnership be- tween Clare VEC and the local com- munity, with the VEC paying for the materials, and all of the labour be-
ing provided voluntarily by the local community.
She praised the people of that ear- lier generation for the tremendous gift they passed on to the thousands of students who have come and gone since then. A presentation was made to Mr. O’Leary by his grand- daughter and current St. Michael’s student, Emma Duggan as a sign of
the school’s gratitude to the people of 1938.
Ms Keane also payed tribute to the principals, staff and students who had ensured the school’s great repu- tation. Particular acknowledgement was given to student Roisin Nolan, who was one of only eleven students in the country to receive 11 A’s in her recent Junior Certificate results.
A number of leaving Certificate students, Eimear Pilkington, Louise O’Grady and Eileen Kelly also read essays recounting their many expe- riences of school life and the tre- mendous impact of education at St. Michael’s had on their lives.
Ms. Keane thanked the organising committe of Martin Moloney, Claire Edwards and Rita Murphy for their work in arranging the event.
Clare VEC chief executive George O’ Callaghan praised the pupils and staff for their tremendous work in making St. Michael’s “one of the finest schools in the county and the country”, and reiterrated Clare VEC’s commitment to continuing to strive for the further development of the school’s facilities. He also congratu- lated those involved in the design of the school’s new website, School PRO Martin Moloney and Sarah Ca- hill, which was offically launched on the day. The website may be found at www.kilmihilcc.com
Following lively music from the School Ceili Band and its brush dancers, 150 green and gold balloons were released to mark the anniversa- ry. Mr. O’Callaghan then unvielled a plaque to commemorate 70 years of second level education in the area.