Kinnegad new school building is blessed

The parish came together to celebrate the blessing and official opening of St. Etchen"s National School"s state-of-the-art new school building.Just one look at the faces of every pupil, parent, teacher was enough evidence to prove that the remarkable Cardinal Glennon Building is a godsend for the community, especially in times when capital funding for schools is becoming increasingly difficult to secure.In a terrific evening of song, dance and reflection, the Bishop of Meath, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Smith, cut the ribbon to officially open the impressive new building, and performed a solemn blessing in a spacious marquee erected to cater for the occasion.The new school facility, named after Kinnegad native, the late Cardinal John Joseph Glennon, was built to help St. Etchen"s adapt to a growing population of school-going children living in Kinnegad and its hinterland.Work on the project started in March 2008, and was completed in nineteen weeks, culminating in the delivery of an eight-classroom building equipped with the best in sporting and educational facilities.Presiding over the official opening with Bishop Smith was Rev. Fr. Tom Gilroy, P.P., Kinnegad, and St. Etchen"s NS principal, Matt Melvin. The proceedings included singing and dancing from St. Etchen"s pupils, and music supplied by the Kinnegad-based Lir Youth Orchestra, conducted by Vincent Hunt.Speaking to the parents, public representatives and members of the community present, Mr. Melvin paid tribute to past and present members of the St. Etchen"s Board of Management, 'the legal and moral custodians of the school and its ethos'.'The fulcrum of every board is its chairperson, and I"d like to thank Fr. Gilroy for his excellent leadership as our current chairperson,' Mr. Melvin said.'A particular welcome is also due to Msgr. Eamon Marron, who served as chairperson of St. Etchen"s School from its inception in 1985 until November 2007.'The St. Etchen"s principal also paid tribute to the school"s Parents" Council; the staff of the school; the main building contractors, Sammon Construction; the Department of Education and Science, the Diocese of Meath and Kinnegad Parish, and Westmeath County Council.'May this school continue to be a reflection of, as well as an example to, the wonderful community it serves,' Mr. Melvin concluded.Bishop Smith called the new building 'an investment in the futures of several young people'.'Thank you for your presence, thank you to all who have made this possible, and I pray that future generations of young people in this community are going to benefit greatly from it,' Bishop Smith told the large crowd in attendance.