St Mary's marks official opening of new extension

The new extension and hall at St Mary's Convent Primary School in Trim was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, on Tuesday of last week. Staff members, parents, pupils, local councillors, past teachers and Sisters of Mercy gathered to celebrate the opening of the new extension and multi-purpose hall. Increasing numbers at the school had meant that a number of classes were being taught in the former school building across the street but the opening of the new extension last June saw all classes back on the same school site once again. As well as seven new classrooms, five resource rooms, a library, computer room and a meeting room, the development also includes a state-of-the art new multi-purpose hall which has retractable seating for 250 people. The new hall is named after Dr Eileen Reilly, mother of Cllr Gerald Reilly, who was the main sponsor and is a member of the school's board of management. The event began with a meet and greet of guests by the students council, principal Cóilin " Coigligh, and Fr Mark Mohan, chairperson of the school's board of management. Bishop Smith performed the official opening and blessing of the new extension and hall and thanked everyone involved in providing the new extension which, he said, had taken a great degree of planning and persistence to achieve. He thanked the Department of Education and paid tribute to the Sisters of Mercy who have been serving the people of Trim since 1858. He also paid tribute to Dr Eileen Reilly, a local GP who was a very influential person in Trim. Mr " Coigligh said he was honoured to be presiding over his second school opening in the past year and told how, in November of last year, he presided over the opening of St Patrick's School in Koroit, Australia, where he was on a year-long principal exchange. "I feel honoured to have had that opportunity as not too many get to preside over two openings on two different continents," he said. He thanked Cllr Gerald Reilly for his sponsorship and said it was a wonderful example of philantrophy that will be of benefit to the children of Trim for many years to come. The principal thanked all involved in the project, including the architects and builders, and also teacher Kevin Higgins who looked after the project in Mr " Coigligh's absense and gave "unselfishly of his time after school, at weekends and even during the holidays". Mr " Coigligh told the gathering that the total cost of the project was over €3.2m. Funds of €200,000 were raised to provide a bigger hall and the principal also thanked Fr Farrell and Bishop Smith for the local contribution of €32,000. He thanked the school's parents' association for its support over the years and the school choir and school band for providing music for the ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony, Cllr Reilly said the Reilly family was proud to be part of the official opening in memory of their mother and appreciated that young people for generations to come will enjoy the superb facilities which the new St Mary's building provides. He told how his mother, Eileen Flanelly, had spent her youth in Attymass, outside Ballina, Co Mayo, and went on to study in UCD, where she qualified as a doctor and chemist. She spent some time in St Vincent's Hospital, before taking up a locum position in Summerhill. Expecting to stay only a year, she continued working there until she met Frank Reilly of Effernock, Trim, whom she married in 1951. Dr Reilly continued to work in the area alongside her colleagues and friends, Dr Brody and Dr McEntee. Along with dispensary duties, house calls were very much part of the medical care at the time, whether it was day or night, and Cllr Reilly said his mother would always be remembered by many in the Trim area for her compassion, dedication and generosity. Cllr Reilly said: "With the opening of this hall today in her name, my mother, Dr Eileen Reilly, will forever be in our throughts and for her family and friends, the great memories will live on." Refreshments provided by the school's parents' associaton were served after the ceremony and there were guided tours of the school available for those who wished to view the new facilities.