PHOTOS: A First Look Inside The New Blennerville School

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Calum Ross, Darragh Cronin and Olivia Crean at the open day for the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

IT’S been a long time coming, but parents and pupils got a chance to see the new St Brendan’s NS in Blennerville at an open day on Wednesday.

The impressive two-storey building will open on Thursday morning, but we got a sneak preview and saw that children and staff won’t know themselves with the space and facilities.

There’s eight mainstream classrooms, three special eduction rooms, a library, a computer room, a PE hall, secretary’s office, a principal’s office, staff room and ample storage in the new structure.

“We’re absolutely thrilled, it’s a long time coming,” said Principal Terry O’Sullivan. “Space really was the big thing that we were always lacking in the old school. The new classrooms are over twice the size of the old ones. As well as the sense of space, the natural light here is great and the scenery from the windows – you’re looking out to Fenit and the Sliabh Mish mountains – makes it one of the most scenic in the county. The play space outside has also more than doubled,” he said.

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The principal also told us that the demolition of the old school will start in the next month and the aim is that everything will be finished by the start of March. There will be a car-park for staff, while parents will be able to drive in the entrance, drop off the children – who will walk in via a path – and then parents can exit another gate.

Minister Jimmy Deenihan also visited while we were there and was very impressed with the new building.

“I think the parents, pupils and teachers will be blown away by the new facility which is of a really high quality and no doubt it will enhance the teaching and learning in the school. I’m delighted to see the sports hall which will, no doubt, spawn a lot of athletes in the future and it’s in a beautiful location on the bay. It ticks all the boxes really. Everybody in Blennerville should be very happy with it,” he said.

Scroll down for photos…

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A view of the PE Hall from above at the new school. Photo by Dermot Crean

James, Sean and Rory Daly at the open day for the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

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The entrance to the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

Minister Jimmy Deenihan with Principal Terry O’Sullivan and teacher Liz O’Connor with Tara and James Dowling and Olivia Crean at the open day for the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

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Computers in the sixth class room in the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

Sixth class pupils Danny Greaney, Molly O’Neill, Nathan Moriarty O’Shea, Michaela McAdams, Dylan Griffin and Michael Doody at the open day for the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

A classroom in the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

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Eve Savage with Ben Polly and Sam Jones at the open day for the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

The lift in the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennervillle. Photo by Dermot Crean

The upstairs corridor in the school. Photo by Dermot Crean

Minister Jimmy Deenihan with Principal Terry O’Sullivan and Brendan O’Donoghue of the Board of Management. Photo by Dermot Crean

The assembly/PE area at the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean

A classroom in the new St Brendan’s NS school in Blennerville. Photo by Dermot Crean