On Monday 16th September 2024, Harold’s Cross Educate Together National School (HCETNS) and Harold’s Cross Educate Together Secondary School (HCETSS) held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the commencement ofconstruction for their new school buildings.
Harold’s Cross ETNS opened in September 2019 on the site of the old Greyhound Stadium in Harold’s Cross, initially serving 12 Junior Infant pupils. The school is set to expand and cater for students from Junior Infants to Sixth Class by 2026. This expansion reflects the increasing need for inclusive and equality-based education in the local community. The new national school building will feature 16 classrooms, as well as two Special Education Needs (SEN) classrooms.
Harold’s Cross ETSS, which opened its doors in August 2020, is situated on the same site and shares the campus with the national school. The new buildings will provide modern, state-of-the-art facilities for both schools and will represent a significant milestone and a welcome step forward in their school’s journey.
In attendance at the event from Educate Together were Chairperson Emma Lane-Spollen and Buildings Officer Niall Wall. Constituency politicians also joined the event, highlighting the broad support for the development of these new educational facilities and for equality-based education in the community.
The new facilities will include modern classrooms, specialised learning spaces, and various amenities designed to support the diverse needs of students. Construction is set to commence shortly, with the new buildings expected to be completed by September 2026.
Speaking at the event, Harold’s Cross ETSS principal Pádraig Conaty said:
“It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child, and similarly, it requires a dynamic local community to successfully advocate for a school and its ongoing development. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive community that has helped us reach this significant milestone.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the stakeholders who have joined us on this journey. The new school building will not only provide an outstanding learning environment for our students but also reflect our commitment to inclusion, ensuring that every child feels valued and supported in their educational experience. Together, we look forward to fostering a culture of educational excellence that enables every student, in their own way, to grow academically and socially to reach their true potential.”
Speaking at the event, Harold’s Cross ETNS principal Ruth Glennon said:
“We are so excited here in Harold’s Cross ETNS to see the contractors begin work on our permanent campus. A huge thank you to everyone including our parent body, pupils, staff, board of management and local representatives to help us get the building project started. Thank you to the team in Educate Together and the Department of Education also for continuing to communicate with us as the project progresses.
The sod turning event was a wonderful celebration of how far we have come since 2019. We cannot wait to welcome you all to our wonderful school campus in September 2026.”
