End of a long road as Cornafulla NS extension opened

An extension of Cornafulla NS which was put in place after many years of planning and preparation was officially opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Monday. The Fine Gael leader was the third consecutive Taoiseach to visit in connection with the Cornafulla school extension. Bertie Ahern announced approval for the project when arrived at the school by helicopter in 2007, but funding was not made available at that stage. Brian Cowen then examined plans for the extension when he visited in 2009. The new development includes the provision of additional classrooms, a sports hall, a library and a range of multi-purpose rooms. Speaking at Monday's official opening, principal Joan Conway thanked everyone who had helped bring the project to fruition. In particular she paid tribute to the school's board, its chairman Fr Ray Milton, and the teaching staff "who worked in difficult circumstances while the building was taking shape." In his remarks Fr Milton noted that the opening was the culmination was a long journey which had been initiated when the previous Cornafulla principal, Fintan Keating, was at the helm. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he could sense that the school's atmosphere was "conducive to learning and conducive to character-building and sending out the kind of young, confident, competent people that we need as our country faces up to its own challenges." Bishop Christopher Jones also paid tribute the school's staff and board of management before blessing the upgraded facility.