Official Opening of Kyle School

Posted on June 4, 2008

By Oona Colin | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Principal of Kyle NS Catherine Foley cut the tape to officially open the new school with Dean Goold, Fr. John Broderick and Kyle NS pupils

It was a wonderful day for the people of Kyle when Minister Micheal Martin, TD Minister for Foreign Affairs, officially opened their brand new school. Kyle National School is a small rural school in the parish of Killeagh, just outside Youghal. The school was built in 1870 and until November 2007 teachers and pupils were in the original building. The trademark of the school were the open fires which were still in use in 2007 !

Micheál Martin TD pictured with Margaret Lynch aged 98, the oldest surviving past pupil of Kyle National School

In the early 1970s, the Department of Education proposed the closure and amalgamation of Kyle school but the parents of thelocal community refused to let their school go. Since then Boards of Management and Parents Associations have been campaigning and fundraising for a new school. It has been a long struggle but the fruit of their labours is the beautiful, modern, clean lined school that now stands as the focal point of the local community. In February 2007 the Department approved a grant for the extension and refurbishment of the school.

Work began soon afterwards and today Kyle has a beautiful modern building comprising of two new classrooms, a resource room, a learning support room, an office and a staff room. Parents, teachers and pupils are delighted with all the new facilities which will enhance the standard of education there and play a vital part in the implementation of the new curricular.