Historic link ends as 'old' St Mary's closes doors

Pupils and teachers past and present gathered at St Mary's Convent Primary School on Wednesday of last week for a ceremony to formally close the 'old school' building, which has been a part of Trim education for more than 80 years. Until the new extension at St Mary's Primary School opened in recent weeks, increasing roll numbers meant that some 150 pupils were being taught in the old school, across the road. The new extension now means the whole school is back on the one campus for the first time in 30 years. The old school has played a major role in education in Trim since it opened in 1924, and there was a sense of sadness that the school was being closed up for the last time last Wednesday morning, the day the children got their summer holidays. The ceremony began at the old school when retired principal, Sr Paul, read an introduction, and school principal Mark Maloney read the opening prayer. Symbols were presented, including the roll book, the bell, chalk and duster and the Mercy Cross. Prayers of the faithful thanked the sisters and lay teachers, the parents, the priests who served the pupils, the boards of management and parents councils and the school crossing guard, Susan. The gathering also remembered all who attended and served in the old school who have passed away, especially caretaker Johnny Coldrick who died recently. The door to the school was closed and the key removed by assistant principal Elizabeth Murray, before the teachers and pupils followed the lighted candle in procession crossing Patrick Street over to the new school. In the hall of the new extension, the light from the old school was used to light a new candle and a blessing was read. Mr Maloney said: "Today's ceremony is an opportunity to acknowledge a special place known to many of us as the 'Old School'. The old school has been an important part of many lives since 1924 but it is best for us to remember further back in history. "Many years ago, a person called Catherine McAuley saw a need - a need for people, especially young people, to have access to shelter, food and most importantly to education. "From Venerable Catherine McAuley we have the Sisters of Mercy and from the Sisters of Mercy and the people of Trim we have our school, St Mary's." Mr Maloney said the ceremony was a chance to acknowledge the importance of the old school but also a chance to thank the Sisters of Mercy who were present at the ceremony and also those who could not be there. A €3.5m extension to St Mary's Primary School was completed earlier this year which consists of seven classrooms, five resource rooms, a library, computer room and, most impressive of all, a large state-of-the-art general purpose hall boasting a tiered retractable seating system. Until the new extension opened, second, third and fourth classes of St Mary's were accommodated in the old school - accounting for approximately 150 children and 10 teachers. St Mary's NS currently has has 530 pupils and 32 teachers. The official opening of the new school extension will take place at a later date.