Track at St Brigid's NS, Ballysax, officially opened
A €13,000 walking and running track at St Brigid's NS Ballysax was officially opened yesterday by the youngest and oldest students in the school, Olly and Ciarán, writes Brian Byrne.
The idea of the track came about when teacher Maria Houlihan took part in a Healthy Ireland course a few years ago and came back from it with ideas on how to help the health and fitness of pupils and teachers at the school.
The Sixth Class of 2020 ran a series of fundraising events for their school tours which were then cancelled by covid, so they gave the money raised to the school. The Parent Teachers Association then got behind the project and with the help of a March Marathon campaign on GoFundMe, a Monster Raffle brought the project closer to realisation. "But there was still a gap left," Principal Esther Reddy told those present at the opening. "And that was when Cllr Anne Connolly stepped in and helped us with an allocation from the LPT funds. The track was then planned and built by Colm Keane, and we are very proud of all who helped make it happen."
The boys and girls at yesterday's event were addressed by a former pupil, Kate Nurse, who is now studying Economics and Finance at UCD. She also has an Athletics Scholarship at the university, and she is a regular and successful competitor at national level running in the 800 and 1500 metres. A former member of Suncroft AC, Kate has also represented Ireland in the Celtic Games.
There were presentations by groups of children on research they had conducted into athletics and the history of marathon running. A rendition of a specially-composed song, 'The 12 Days of Halloween', was also joined in by all present.
The track was blessed by Fr Barry Larkin before the ribbon was cut by Olly and Ciarán.
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