11-06-2025
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..
