Holy Family SNS

Holy Family Senior National School began life in the premises of the present Holy Family Junior National School in 1985. Anne Patterson was appointed Principal and Mary O Hanlon as Vice-Principal. Mrs Patterson taught fourth class and the three third classes were taught by Ms O Hanlon, Mr O Driscoll and Ms Mc Nally [temporary].Mr Mc Ginty replaced Ms Mc Nally in January 1986 and Ms Feely, Mr Donnellan and Ms Curran joined the staff that September. We operated a ‘dual-day’ with the junior school for the 1986 / 1987 academic year. The junior school opened for the morning session and we used the premises for the afternoon period.The first phase of the Holy Family Senior National School proper opened for pupils in 1987. This innovative, metal-clad building was constructed by Soldek ltd. in a period of economic stricture.The first 6 class graduated in the summer of 1987. The Confirmation ceremony was performed by Bishop Dermot O Mahony in the pre-fabricated church that pre-dated the existing church.

The school grew at a phenomenal rate to become one of the largest primary school campuses in the state. The senior school had a population of 725 in September 1997. Many of the classes had 35 pupils per class at that stage.Phase Two of the building programme and phase Three with a brick façade to match the original junior school building followed. Various prefabricated classrooms have been added over the years to accommodate expansion.

In more recent years the school population has begun to shrink but the development of new estates such as Brookdale, Highfields, Ridgewood and Boroimhe, allied to the influx of international pupils, has steadied the decline in the pupil population and invigorated the school community to respond to the changing demographics.The nature of school life is ‘transition’. We work on a four year cycle and pride ourselves that the vast majority of our pupils past and present have fond memories of their time with us. We sadly lost some pupils and a staff member to accidents or illness over the years. They are gone but not forgotten.

Many teachers have retired over the years including Ms Patterson, Ms O Hanlon, Ms Feely, Ms Boyle, Mr. O'Driscoll, Ms. Crowley and Mr. Donnellan all having given sterling service to the school and community. Just this year our principal Mr. McGinty retired. We wish them well in retirement and pray that the school continues to enhance the lives of all the partners in education.