1971 Saint Brigid's National School

The New School 1971

• Harry Allen walked the children up the “side road” (Beechpark Ave) to the new school on Feb 1st 1971.

• All children carried the books, maps, boxes. • 32 lower road children joined the new school• The entrance was on Beechpark Avenue and

there was a long narrow driveway leading into the school.

A Modern Building• The new school had 8 classrooms , twice as many

as the old school. • There was a library full of books, a General

Purpose Hall , an office, a staffroom and indoor toilets with running water.

• Each classroom had big blackboards on the walls, lots of light with big windows on both sides , a sink , worktop and fitted presses.

• The office had a phone line and there was a tv in the library.

Outside• The yards were big and smooth• There were basketball hoops and a big field

for sports• Children started staying for lunch so they

could play football at lunchtime.

The Field

1970s Infants Picture

• 1971 the new child centred curriculum was published

• School was a happier less formal place • A past pupil remembers quizzes, nature walks,

projects, listening to the radio, tape recorders and Irish taught using film strips.

• Children sometimes worked in groups • Mrs. Murphy developed a school garden at

the front of the school.

Making the Garden

• In 1973 the first PTA was formed to fundraise for the school.

• The annual dance was held at Christmas in the GP Hall. Supper was served in the classrooms in the middle school.

• 1979 The Pope visited Ireland and Fr. O’ Driscoll held a prayer service for the whole school in the yard.

• School continued to grow at a fast rate and had doubled again in size by 1980. Some classes were now in prefabs.

• In 1980 another extension was completed

The Pope’s Cross

1980 Extension• The current Junior Building opened in 1980• 8 bigger classrooms with toilets in each

room ,wet areas for art and carpets • Emergency doors in each downstairs room

and a fire escape upstairs• Wide corridors• Hot water• Staff room and Learning Support Room

• Junior Infants remained in the old building and Senior Infants moved to the new building

• Prefabs were still in use for 1st and 3rd classes.• Numbers continued to grow. We already had 3

Junior Infant and 3 Senior Infant Classes.• 5th and 6th played at front of the school• On the day of the Summer Holidays the teachers

played each other in a basketball match at the front of the school as pupils watched.

Ms. Beirne plays in the Teacher’s Basketball Match

• 1980s Ann and Barry was the first reading scheme used to teach reading . Before this we used Ladybird Books.

• 1982 corporal punishment was abolished.• A photocopier was purchased by PTA• TVs on trolleys and video players were bought

The Getstener

• Before the photocopier…

1983 on • Holy Communion and Confirmation were held in Porterstown .

Parents helped bring children up every day for practices the week before the ceremony

• After each communion the priest had a garden party in his house next door for children and parents.

• School Uniforms were introduced in 1986 • In 1983 the church was built . In the same year a prefab was set on

fire one Halloween. There was a lot of vandalism around the school so a fence was built.

• The entrance to the school was moved from Beechpark Avenue to Beechpark Lawn. The long drive up to the school became the footpath outside Chrysalis.

• “Oliver” the musical was performed nightly for a week. It was produced by Mr. Doyle

Ms. O’ Halloran and Ms. Fitzgerald on her communion day.

• In 1987 the Infant Building opened.• While it was being built we were allowed use

prefabs in Blanchardstown as temporary classrooms so three 6th classes were bused there every day

• In December 1990 the first school magazine was published.

1990s

• The School Sponsored Walk was held on the M50 in March 1990 the day before it opened.

• 1991 The Library was moved to a prefab and a year later after a big donation from Ben Dunne, the computer room was opened. A printer was also installed.

• 1994 Mrs. Williams took over the Senior Choir and in 1996 they won Feis Ceoil.

The M50 Toll Plaza

Sports Days

• 1970 School sports held on the field (where sports hall is)

• 1976 Sports moved to Sundays in Castleknock College • One year we held the Sports during school on Church

Green• Sports were then moved to St.Brigid’s All Weather Pitch

2000’s• 2003 Mr. Courtney became Principal.• 2005 President Mary Mc Alese visited us.• Whiteboards were installed• 2007 Library was computerized. • 2009 Digital School Award• 2011 All three buildings were refurbished during

Summer Holidays. • Mrs.Murphy’s garden and school field were

demolished• 2012 Senior Building and Sports Hall built. Split Break

and reduced yard space

President Mary Mc Alese’s Visit

2012 New Building

• 8 new classrooms with sliding storage areas• 3 story building• 5 Learning Support Rooms• Staff Room , Conference Room, 3 offices and

disabled shower room.• New garden, Library and Sports Hall • Soft Surface in Infant Yard• Staff Carpark

The Number 3 • 3 Important Years 1865 1971 2013• 3 Principals: Harry Allen, Dave Nolan, Denis

Courtney• 3 Deputies: Dave Nolan, Terry Beirne, Noelle

Mac Donagh• 3 Secretaries: Mrs. Kitterick, Mrs.Lineen,

Ms.Mooney• 3 Caretakers: Peter George, Peter Walsh,

Derek Kelly•

• 2013 Official Opening• Cloak Sculpture at front of school• 2014 Grandparents Day in 2nd • Choir of the Year• Many Sporting Successes

New Building

April 2012First Day Open

Ice Cream Day 2014

3 DATES1865 1971 2013