
Tánaiste opens new Wicklow school facilities and visits school's Bord Bia Bloom garden
Woodstock ETNS is a developing school located in Newtownmountkennedy and currently has 125 students enrolled.
This year one of the school targets was to develop a space for the children to engage in independent reading. This target was supported by the whole school community and the school now has a specified library space with over 2,000 books, comfortable seating, shelving and a digitised record of all library books and borrowings.
The Tánaiste also opened the school's new outdoor classroom which has been developed by the school in close partnership with some parents and the wider school community.
Acting principal Philip McCarthy said: 'The school really enjoyed the occasion and all staff and children got to engage with the Tánaiste and ask him questions. The school also invited parents to celebrate the opening by attending a coffee morning in the school where parents and guardians got the opportunity to talk to the Tánaiste about the development of our new school. The opening was enjoyed by all who attended and is a significant milestone in the school's development.'
The next port of call for the Tánaiste was St Mary's and St Gerards where he was treated to poetry, music and songs from 4th, 5th ad 6th class.
He also had a private viewing of the postcard garden designed by 4th class students for Bord Bia Bloom 2025, which was highly commended by Bloom judges. The planting is a mixture of edible, medicinal, and textured plants. All materials used in the garden are upcycled and repurposed as the garden has been designed in line with the school's commitment to protect the environment as a Green School.
The Tánaiste also got the opportunity for a chat with renowned lollipop man Ciaron Woodcock, who is a real favourite of all the children attending school in Enniskerry.
After the school visit, Cllr Melanie Corrigan brought Tánaiste Harris to the site of Enniskerry FC Soccer in the Meadow mini-word cup, where the final preparations were being put in place..
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
29-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Tánaiste backs major tourism plans for historic Camden Fort Meagher in Cork Harbour
The Tánaiste has pledged ongoing Government support for the continued development of a landmark Cork Harbour fort as a key regional tourist attraction. Simon Harris was speaking at the official opening of a new exhibition space at Camden Fort Meagher — widely recognised as one of the finest remaining examples of a classical coastal artillery fort in the world — which has become an award-winning visitor site since it was reclaimed by community volunteers in 2010. This triggered a massive restoration involving extensive collaboration between the community, Cork County Council, and the government. Mr Harris visited the fort in Crosshaven on Friday to officially open the latest phase of restoration: the casemate building with its striking barrel-vaulted roofs and display rooms. He praised the efforts of all involved in the restoration and regeneration work over the years. 'Camden Fort Meagher is a place of national historical significance and a powerful symbol of Ireland's military and maritime heritage,' he said. 'It has been transformed from a derelict stronghold to a fantastic visitor experience. 'I know Cork County Council is working on plans to further develop it, and we in government will continue to partner together with all those involved to further develop the facility.' Fortifications were first built on the site in 1550, with upgrades in the late 1700s and 1800s to support the naval defence of Cork Harbour. Approximately two-thirds of the structure are located underground in a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers. It was handed back to the state in 1938 and remained an Irish military installation until it was transferred to the county council in 1989. The fort was overgrown in 2010 when local community volunteers began reclaiming and restoring it, spearheading its transformation in phases as funding allowed. The fort closed for extensive restoration during 2023 and 2024, focusing on protecting and conserving the casemate building, which houses the fort's main tourist exhibitions. The work was funded through significant investment by Cork County Council, supported by the government through the Historic Structures Fund and Community Monuments Fund. Nicola Radley, Director of Service, Cork County Council; Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Hildegarde Naughton TD; Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities and with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD; Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris TD; Cllr Ben Dalton O'Sullivan, Deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork, and Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moria Murrell, pictured with elected representatives, volunteers, and other guests, as Cork County Council has officially opened new tourist display rooms at Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan Last October, the council and Costello Masonry Conservation Ltd won first prize for the specialist work at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards. The casemate block has now been fully commissioned with new exhibitions telling the story of the fort's history, reclamation, and restoration. Mr Harris said its restoration is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration between local communities and government. Cllr Ben Dalton O'Sullivan, deputising for the county mayor, said the entire fort is of huge historical and architectural significance. 'For almost 400 years the fort played a key role as a strong strategic position for the defence of Ireland, the west coast of England and Wales. The fort's military and more recent history is told through these new displays and I hope they will inform and entertain,' he said. Minister of State Jerry Buttimer described the fort project as a shining example of community spirit and strategic investment working hand in hand. 'The fort not only tells the story of our nation's past, but also embodies the power of local volunteers and the value of community-led regeneration,' he said. Moira Murrell, the council's chief executive, said they have huge ambition for the fort, but state funding is important to ensure projects of scale are delivered. 'The fort has the potential to be a significant economic driver for Crosshaven and the wider harbour area,' she said. 'We look forward to working with both Fáilte Ireland and government departments to identify funding opportunities to allow Camden Fort Meagher and the wider community to reach its full economic and tourism potential." Camden Fort Meagher is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, and on Bank Holiday Mondays between April and October. It will open seven days a week during July and August. See for details. Read More Work on Cork taskforce 'ongoing' as Fine Gael appoints first ever spokesperson on city


Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Tánaiste opens new Wicklow school facilities and visits school's Bord Bia Bloom garden
He also dropped into St Mary's and St Gerard's of Enniskerry, where he got to view the pop-up postcard garden that students entered into Bord Bia Bloom 2025. Woodstock ETNS is a developing school located in Newtownmountkennedy and currently has 125 students enrolled. This year one of the school targets was to develop a space for the children to engage in independent reading. This target was supported by the whole school community and the school now has a specified library space with over 2,000 books, comfortable seating, shelving and a digitised record of all library books and borrowings. The Tánaiste also opened the school's new outdoor classroom which has been developed by the school in close partnership with some parents and the wider school community. Acting principal Philip McCarthy said: 'The school really enjoyed the occasion and all staff and children got to engage with the Tánaiste and ask him questions. The school also invited parents to celebrate the opening by attending a coffee morning in the school where parents and guardians got the opportunity to talk to the Tánaiste about the development of our new school. The opening was enjoyed by all who attended and is a significant milestone in the school's development.' The next port of call for the Tánaiste was St Mary's and St Gerards where he was treated to poetry, music and songs from 4th, 5th ad 6th class. He also had a private viewing of the postcard garden designed by 4th class students for Bord Bia Bloom 2025, which was highly commended by Bloom judges. The planting is a mixture of edible, medicinal, and textured plants. All materials used in the garden are upcycled and repurposed as the garden has been designed in line with the school's commitment to protect the environment as a Green School. The Tánaiste also got the opportunity for a chat with renowned lollipop man Ciaron Woodcock, who is a real favourite of all the children attending school in Enniskerry. After the school visit, Cllr Melanie Corrigan brought Tánaiste Harris to the site of Enniskerry FC Soccer in the Meadow mini-word cup, where the final preparations were being put in place..


Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Current and former students join together to celebrate Wexford school's milestone jubilee
The school was officially opened on September 25 in 1975 by the then Tánaiste Brendan Corish. This was a significant event as it marked the amalgamation of female and male students for the first time. Many members of the community attended to celebrate the occasion, including Bishop Ger Nash, Cllr Barbara- Anne Murphy, and FCJ Secondary School principal Brendan Daly. Two former as well as the current principal, gave speeches as they reflected over how far the school has come over the years. Michael Dee spoke about how surprisingly seamless the entire process had been when opening the school, while James Roberts took great pride in leading the school to become more involved in the Rackard League and getting more funding for class equipment. Current principal Tomás Moriarty, who has been at the helm since 2019, spoke about how special working in the school has been, despite the obstacles created by Covid-19 soon after he took on the role. "From my first visit, to meet James Roberts and the children, it was clear that OLOL NS was a special place. Walking in through the gates, I remember that the school grounds were sparkling in the early Summer sun and from the first meeting with the children and staff I was made feel welcome,' he said. A special mass also took place on the day, as well as refreshments, with music proudly provided by students on their instruments.