Blessed and Opened
By Noel Dundon
Friday last proved to be a red letter day for the village of Holycross with the opening of the Gort na n-Og childcare facility attached to St Michael’s National School.
The wonderfully bright and airy facility has been in operation for a year now, but was blessed and opened by Archbishop Dermot Clifford, in the presence of invited guests, local parishioners and public representatives.
The facility, which was the brainchild of former Principal of St Michael’s, Timmy Delaney, is run and managed by Brid Bergin Maher and caters for children from the cradle to the end of primary school. Indeed, such had been the demand for childcare in the parish that Gort na n-Og’s viability had been identified through a detailed survey carried out by the Tipperary Institute under the watchful eye of Mr Ciaran Lynch prior to any work commencing. A lengthy process commenced once a need was established and many hurdles had to be jumped before the fabulous Gort na n-Og became a reality.
Many of those responsible for helping to bring Gort na n-Og to Holycross were present for the blessing and opening with Mayor Micheal Lowry – a past pupil, and Deputy Michael Lowry among them. Councillors John Kennedy, Billy Clancy and Seamus Hanafin were also present, as were Jim Finn and Sean McLoughlin of Leader who supported the project.
Timmy Delaney made his return to Holycross for the event and having been welcomed warmly by his successor, Mr Ger Corbett, he went on to detail the childcare concept from it’s embryonic state to it’s current reality. Lauding the co-opertaion received across the board, and most especially from Rev Fr Tom Breen PP Holycross, and Archbishop Clifford in terms of acquiring the land, Timmy Delaney, Chairman of the Board of Directors, also mentioned the input of Eithne O’Meara of O’Meara Solicitors, Thurles, Architect and Project Manager, Deirdre Kelly, builder Declan Breen and the Board of Directors who have all played key roles in bringing affordable, professional and flexible childcare to Holycross.
Mayor Micheal Lowry, in one of his final functions as First Citizen of the county, recalled his schooldays in St Michael’s and said that he was thrilled to be back in his alma mater. It was, he said, almost thirty years since his father Michael, led him by the hand into the school, and how things have changed since. Mayor Lowry was delighted to see the school continuing to expand and paid tribute to the Quinn family – adjoining landholders – for helping to facilitate the growth of St Michael’s.
“I have no doubt that this facility will be of enormous benefit to all who use it and will serve parents and family for many years to come. It is a new dimension to our community here and it really is the essence of community,” Mayor Lowry said.
Aileen Healy, Co-Ordinator of North Tipperary Childcare also spoke on the night and outlined how 8.5 million Euro has been spent in North Tipperary on childcare over the last twelve years. Gort na n-Og is a tribute to the foresight of the community, she said, and she looked forward to it fulfilling a very important role in Holycross.
Deputy Michael Lowry credited former Minister Barry Andrews for his commitment to the project when it was first put to him. He described the project as a “partnership” and outlined how he had been summoned to the Principal’s office on more than one occasion, when the Gort na n-Og concept had run into problems. He was thrilled to see it now acting as a feeder for St Michael’s NS with an extension also being built for the school at the present time.
“I am very proud of Holycross. It is my place. It is where I live – where I have always lived – and where I socialise. It is part of what I am and there is a tremendous sense of community spirit here where people are there for one another in good times and bad. We have that in our parish and long may it continue to flourish,” Deputy Lowry said.
Archbishop Clifford described the centre as a mini industry.”We even have our own chef here,” he said and he delighted in the beautiful decorations, the brightness of the building and the space afforded to every room.
“This facility is a good and lasting legacy of the Celtic Tiger. I had no idea that it was this big or run as well as it is. I am most impressed with it,”Archbishop Clifford said prior to blessing the facility and cutting the ribbon in it.
Those in attendance were invited by Ger Corbett to tour the facilities and see what Gort na n-Og has to offer while refreshments were served in the canteen area much to the delight of everyone.
There was a very convivial atmosphere in the centre on the night and a real sense of achievement prevailed. Now Holycross can cater for childcare, pre-school care, after school care and all the needs that go along with each of the age groups. That’s a big load off the mind for parents.
Timmy Delaney’s vision has finally become a reality.