14.05.2012
East Glendalough School Celebrates 25 Years
East Glendalough School has celebrated its 25th anniversary with the opening of its new school archive and an evening of festivities. The event, which took place in the Wicklow town school, drew a large gathering of past and present pupils and parents, teachers and board members. Among the special guests were the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson; the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Right Revd Ken Good, who was the school’s first chaplain; and RTE News journalist, Will Goodbody, who was among the school’s first intake of first years.
Following prayers led by Revd Canon John Clark, East Glendalough’s principal, Alan Cox, welcomed everyone back to the school. He said the school archive had been assembled by Niamh Minogue and would be a great treasure for years to come.
Vice–principal, Vivean Wier, who has been a teacher at the school since the day it opened, recalled the many people who pushed hard to get the school for the children of East Glendalough in the mid 1980s. Ms Wier noted that the school had an excellent reputation and places were much sought after.
Will Goodbody recalled when East Glendalough School first opened in 1987, in the grounds of the nearby Glebe National School and the subsequent move to the new building. He said that East Glendalough was like a family because of its small size. Because of its progressive attitude to learning, it attracted great teachers, staff and principals.
Archbishop Jackson said it was great to visit a flourishing school and praised their foresight in assembling the artefacts for the school archive. “This is important because the life and history of the school reflects the life and history of the nation,” he said. He said that the “whispy word” ethos was tremendously important as a school gives transferrable skills and has the ability to produce good and kind citizens.
The formal part of the evening concluded with a blessing given by Bishop Good.