A new school building under the patronage of Galway, Roscommon, Education & Training Board (GRETB ) is to open in February, where current first year students will commence classes in a state of the art facility straight after the mid-term break.
The PPP building, which was constructed by BAM Building Ltd, will accommodate 700 second-level students and will thus have a major role in providing education for boys and girls on the east side of the city.
Coláiste Mhuirlinne or Merlin College was established in August 2013, and took its first intake of first year students last autumn. Thankfully, the wait has not been too long for the school’s students and parents to move into their new permanent structure.
The three storey building will facilitate all aspects of the curriculum, ensuring that its very broad range of subjects is taught to the highest standards from first year to Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams. As a new school the physical built environment is conducive to learning in a space that provides for practical, reflective, and creative endeavours, having as it does, a fully equipped gymnasium and indoor PE hall with changing rooms, a library, lecture theatre, media and IT computer room, and a convenient recreational canteen and catering area.
The school also has, to Department of Education specifications: home economics, engineering, construction studies, graphics, art, and science laboratories along with a music/drama room, meditation area, pastoral care and guidance rooms, and numerous general purpose mainstream classroom and meeting rooms. The school will also be equipped with Wi-Fi and 100mbps broadband throughout.
Already the school has established links with Galway’s sporting authorities as part of its extra-curricular programmes such as rugby, hurling, Gaelic football, and soccer. The outdoor pitches will complement and assist in developing these sporting activities. Basketball will also be a large feature of school life with both an indoor and four outdoor basketball courts. Other features of school life include the school choir and Coderdojo/ Scratch which has been established in conjunction with Galway Institute of Technology; a link which Coláiste Mhuirlinne is delighted to be a part of and one which it hopes to develop well into the future for the benefit of all students.
Although only in existence since last year, Coláiste Mhuirlinne has already firmly established itself among the primary schools and catchment area communities whereby in September it will have in the region of 200 students in both first and second year alone. As a multi- denominational school, members of all faith groups and denominations are welcome, as too are students from all ethnic, cultural, and national backgrounds. The school has also set high standards in relation to discipline and conduct, and follows its anti- bullying procedures to the letter within a pastoral context and setting.
“It was a privilege to move into such a beautiful building that would complement and reflect the work ethic of Coláiste Mhuirlinne’s teaching staff and which would help to build on the foundations already laid in relation to study, work, discipline, and self- belief,” said John Cleary, Coláiste Mhuirlinne’s principal.
“As a friend of sport and the arts,” Mr Cleary continued, “Coláiste Mhuirlinne would, as a new school, endeavour to establish links with the many creative and sporting organisations in Galway city with the intention of developing students and their talents within a hard working holistic environment.”
Cleary also encouraged any artistic or sporting organisation to contact the school if they felt they would like to contribute to the school’s extra-curricular activities.
Parents are advised that an open night will be held on Thursday March 13 in the new school for students enrolled for 2014/15. However, parents still wishing to enrol their son or daughter for 2014/15 should download an application form at www.cgvec.ie or contact the school secretary at (091 ) 769000.
