Taughmaconnell school marks its Golden Jubilee with celebration event

St Ronan's National School in Taughmaconnell celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Golden Jubilee event in the school on Saturday, May 25.

Among the events which took place on the day was the opening of a time capsule which was prepared by pupils at the school in 1995 in an effort to predict what the the world would be like in 2020.

This 20-20 Vision Time Capsule was originally due to be unveiled in 2020, but this was postponed when the school closed during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

The principal of St Ronan's NS, Tríona McLoughlin, said there was a "great atmosphere" at the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

In 1995, St Ronan's NS was one of 72 schools in Ireland to participate in the time capsule project, which was led by teacher Adrian Coughlan. Each student had to compile a scrapbook and there was an option to make a recording for the capsule. The capsule was then brought to be stored in the Bank of Ireland in Ballinasloe for 25 years.

Ms McLoughlin said: “The children were asked to look back at how life was 25 years earlier, in 1970, assess how Ireland developed between 1970 and 1995, and they had to suggest what the environment and our way of life might look like 25 years into the future. They made a huge effort and they had 20 predictions of what our world would be like in 2020.”

As part of the build up to the event, the student council proposed that the school uniform be updated and, for the Golden Jubilee celebration, they decided to update both the school crest and uniform.

Ms McLoughlin said: “The children presented us with fabulous designs for the crest and, because of this special occasion, we commissioned artist Carol Kelly to design a plaque for us with this crest. Three children, Cara Daly and Michael and Sophie Flynn displayed the beautiful crest and modelled our new school uniform for all to see for the first time.”

She congratulated the former students and commended them on the very high standard of their projects.

On the day of the jubilee celebrations, the former students' work was displayed in the school and a class photo was taken in order to recreate one taken in 1995.

Photo albums, displays of photos of interactive panels, a copy of class lists from roll books, and different former uniforms were all showcased at the school during the 50-year commemoration. Visitors also had the opportunity to write down some of their favourite memories from their time in the school.

The current fifth and sixth class students also gave their predictions for what life will be like in 2050.

A special Mass was held on the day, outside the school, and was celebrated by the chairperson of the Board of Management, Parish Priest Fr Sean Neylon. A cherry blossom tree was planted in memory of all past pupils and staff members who have passed away.

Andrea Moore, who attended the school when it opened in 1974, and the youngest student in junior infants, Bronagh Burke, officially cut the Golden Jubilee Cake on the day.

At present there are 107 students in the school, which has five classroom teachers, two special education teachers and three special needs assistants.

The school would like to thank Roscommon Volunteer Group for its help with car stewarding, face painting, a penalty shoot out and catering and refreshments. The site on which the school was built on in 1974 was generously donated by the Murray family.