07.10.2016
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny Officially Opens Temple Carrig School, Greystones
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened Temple Carrig School in Greystones this morning (Friday October 7. The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, dedicated the building in the presence of almost 400 students, their principal Alan Cox, their teachers, government ministers, local TDs and public representatives.
This is the first Church of Ireland secondary school in the voluntary model to be established since the foundation of the State. While it is under Church of Ireland management, Temple Carrig School provides education for the whole community in the Greystones and Delgany area. This makes the school unique in an Irish context in that while it is run by a minority faith, just 20 percent of the students are from a Church of Ireland background.
Temple Carrig was established in 2012 following the awarding of a grant of patronage by the Department of Education. The School took its first intake of pupils in September 2014 in temporary accommodation on the current school site. The school building was completed in December 2015 and now has first, second and third year students in place. This academic year will see the first students at the school sit State Exams.
The Taoiseach said that the opening of the new school was an important day in everyone’s lives. He noted that while it was a historic day for the Church of Ireland, the school catered for people of diverse beliefs and attitudes. He told the students that they were living in a world of rapid change but said that the nation could be proud of the quality and confidence of the children of the Republic of Ireland.
“This is a beautiful building, but it’s just a building. It is the pupils, their parents and teachers and the staff that make it an educational facility. All of you will make your mark,” the Taoiseach said. In the words of US President, Barak Obama, he told the students: “Dream big dreams. To the children of Temple Carrig, you can be what you want to be. You can be the person you see 10 or 20 years out. There is nothing that can hold you back if you believe in what you want.”
Archbishop Michael Jackson said that this day had been highly anticipated by pupils, staff, the headmaster, the board and parents and that this anticipation had been shared with the wider community that is the lifeblood of Temple Carrig. He paid tribute to those who put together the application for patronage and those, including the chair of the Board of Management, Garrett Fennell and the principal, Alan Cox, who had brought the project to fruition.
“From the outset, this school has been positive and progressive in being three things: faith–based; Christian in ethos; within Church of Ireland and Anglican patronage. In no way has this cluster of values and principles been seen as anything other than the desire to serve the community of membership and the community of extension in this part of County Wicklow. It can therefore without inconsistency describe itself as welcoming of children of all faith traditions and of none. It comes as a surprise to many, but this has ever been the Church of Ireland way. It is always our concern to see that a school under Church of Ireland patronage is open and inclusive,” the Archbishop stated.
Chairman of the board of management of the school, Garrett Fennell, said that Temple Carrig represented an interesting model of education provision in Ireland. “In a context where much of the popular focus is on moving away from faith based education, here is a brand new faith based school, run by a minority religion which is catering for the educational requirements of a diverse and broad community. Part of what makes this school so unique and special is that our school community is comprised of people from many different faith groups and none – the school is a real reflection of the diverse and vibrant community that we live in,” he said.
He added: “Temple Carrig also demonstrates that faith based schools are inclusive and embracing of difference and diversity. Much of the current debate around patronage in Irish education is very polarised and fails to recognise that diversity and tolerance comes in many shapes and ways. Indeed schools under Church of Ireland patronage have been models for inclusive multidenominational education for decades”.
The addresses of the Archbishop Michael Jackson and the Chairman of the Board are below.
Photo
captions:
Top – Chairman of the board of Temple Carrig School Garrett Fennell, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson and principal of Temple Carrig School Alan Cox.
Middle – The Taoiseach chats to some of the students of Temple Carrig School.
Bottom – Students and guests at the official opening of Temple Carrig School.
There are more photos on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough/posts/1110868975615812
Address by The Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Reverend Dr Michael Jackson, Patron
Today is the day much anticipated in the lives of the pupils of this school along with staff and headmaster, members of the Board and parents. This anticipation is shared with the community that is the lifeblood of Temple Carrig now firmly established in the parishes – civil and religious – of Delgany, Bray and Greystones and beyond. Five years have brought us from seed to planting and from planting to blossoming. The tenacity and the industry of the Reverend Baden Stanley, rector of Bray, in particular along with others whom he instinctively gathered around him to form a team and an engine–room for this development is highly impressive as are the application and acumen of Garrett Fennell and the passion and care of Alan Cox. These three people have gathered round them a team of people of commitment, people of generosity and people willing to go the extra mile for the children and young people of this area. Their aim throughout is to provide and to sustain the highest level of academic education and of personal growth and development for those entrusted by parents to the life and the ethos of this school. Mention must also be made of the Reverend Alan Breen, chaplain to Temple Carrig, who has brought to bear on the life of the school his own capacity to build a community of friendship, respect and adventure along with the Reverend Nigel Waugh and Canon David Mungavin.
From the outset, this school has been positive and progressive in being three things: faith–based; Christian in ethos; within Church of Ireland and Anglican patronage. In no way has this cluster of values and principles been seen as anything other than the desire to serve the community of membership and the community of extension in this part of County Wicklow. It can therefore without inconsistency describe itself as welcoming of children of all faith traditions and of none. It comes as a surprise to many, but this has ever been the Church of Ireland way. It is always our concern to see that a school under Church of Ireland patronage is open and inclusive. Even in a school so new and so carefully thought through – in terms of philosophy, geography and architecture – we are already under intense pressure simply because of size, not out of a wilful desire for exclusion, to deliver this ethic and this altruism. Generous pluralism is the path we seek to offer as our contribution to the educational sector in an Ireland where wider social pressures and premeditations will always be brought to bear on schools and their spirit and therefore on their pupils and their staff. We hope always that these pressures will be positive, not negative. What we offer we offer through Constitutional invitation and requirement.
Friday October 7th 2016 is a day of gladness in this school. We are honoured to have with us an Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Ministers Harris and Doyle; Dail deputies and local councillors from the Greystones Municipal District; representatives of the Department of Education and Skills past and present. To all of you and to all others who have come here in significant numbers I express my heartfelt thanks. The future is open; the future lies before the children of Temple Carrig who must always be the concern and the focus of education as an interactive and trustful exercise in civic democracy. I thank everyone for everything that has been done in the planning, the construction and the creating of an expectation of happiness, positivity and openness in Temple Carrig. Most of all I thank the pupils for their contribution and their membership of this great school.
ENDS
Official Opening of Temple Carrig School, Greystones
Comments by Garrett Fennell, Chair of the Temple Carrig Board Of Management
7 October 2016
A Thaoisigh, a Ardeaspaig, Airí Harris agus Doyle, ionadaí an phobail, aíonna, foireann agus daltaí Mheánscoil Theampall Carraige.
Tá lúchair orm fáilte a chur romhaibh chuig oscailt oifigiúil na scoile don lá cinniúnach seo.
Is lá fíorthábhactach é seo do phobal na gCloch Liath, Deilgne agus ceantar Chill Mhantáin thuaidh.
A Thaoisigh, tá áthas orainn go bhfuil tú linn inniu agus is mór an ónoir dúinn go raibh am agat teacht ag an tréimhse ghnóthach seo den bhliain.
Taoiseach, Archbishop, Ministers Harris and Doyle, public representatives, guests and members of the Temple Carrig School community I am delighted to welcome you to the official opening of Temple Carrig Secondary School for what is a momentous day for the local community in Greystones, Delgany and the wider North Wicklow Area.
Taoiseach, we are very pleased that you are able to join us today and appreciate your presence with us at what is a busy time in the political calendar. Temple Carrig School is a school of firsts in many respects.
It is the first school of its type to be established under Church of Ireland patronage since the foundation of the State – a really significant milestone in this current year of commemorations.
Temple Carrig also represents an interesting model of education provision in Ireland.
In a context where much of the popular focus is on moving away from faith based education, here is a brand new faith based school, run by a minority religion which is catering for the educational requirements of a diverse and broad community. Part of what makes this school so unique and special is that our school community is comprised of people from many different faith groups and none – the school is a real reflection of the diverse and vibrant community that we live in.
Temple Carrig also demonstrates that faith based schools are inclusive and embracing of difference and diversity. Much of the current debate around patronage in Irish education is very polarised and fails to recognise that diversity and tolerance comes in many shapes and ways. Indeed schools under Church of Ireland patronage have been models for inclusive multidenominational education for decades.
This school would not be a reality if it had not been for the sterling efforts of a very dedicated group of people who worked so hard to get it to where it is today.
These people demonstrated that the spirit of voluntarism is alive and well in modern day Ireland.
Inspired by the vision of Rev Baden Stanley a group of parents organised in November 2011 to run a campaign to secure the COI patronage for the school. And once the patronage was awarded in July 2012 the really hard work began.
There are many people to thank who have got us to where we are today.
· Rev Baden Stanley and the members of the patronage bid committee
· The Archbishop, whose support and vision for Temple Carrig has been unflinching from the start.
· Dr Ken Fennelly and his colleagues from the RCB who gave us huge support along the way as well as colleagues from the JMB.
· The local communities and local parents who supported the new school.
· The local COI parishes who provided financial support to the School at the very start. In particular thanks to Canon David Mungavin of Greystones for allowing us take over his parish centre and Church at different stages of the last few years.
· Local national schools – who provide such an excellent level of education and whose former pupils now form our student base. I would like to acknowledge the attendance of representatives of these schools today.
· The officials from the Department of Education who worked under considerable pressure to bring the School to fruition – in particular Tom Plunkett and his colleagues in the Forward Planning Unit.
· Our Architect – Jackie Carroll and her colleagues from MCOH who designed this wonderful building and continue to support us along the way.
· Micheal Sammon, his colleagues in Sammon Construction and all the sub contractors and team members who worked so hard to have the building open, ready and looking so well for today – and we are so grateful for their continued support as we move forward.
· Our local public representatives who have been hugely supportive – Ministers Harris and Doyle, and Deputy Stephen Donnelly as well as former Deputies Ferris and Timmons who worked with us through the early stages. We look forward to working with Deputies John Brady and Pat Casey.
· We have also been very ably assisted by our local councillors and the officials from Wicklow County Council.
Particular thanks are due to Mr Alan Cox, the Principal of Temple Carrig who has worked so hard since his appointment as Principal Designate in April 2013 to make Temple Carrig the wonderful school that it is today.
Mr Cox has gathered together a super team of dedicated, focused and committed staff whose enthusiasm and passion for their work helps to define the school.
We have also been really fortunate to have strong and supportive local parents who have really put their energy and commitment behind the School. From the start many took a real leap of faith in sending their kids to a brand new school in prefabs on a building site. We have all worked hard to meet their expectations.
However the real stars of Temple Carrig School have been our students. The way that the students have thrown themselves into the new school has been inspiring. Anyone looking for affirmation and confidence in the future of our country should come and spend a few hours here.
You will come across smart, engaged and enthusiastic young people – keen to learn and anxious to contribute to their school and community.
And not only are they excelling in the classroom, but Temple Carrig is also making a name for itself on the pitches, stages and debating chambers of North Wicklow and Dublin. Taoiseach, our Gaelic football team even came top of the County Schools League. Mayo and Dublin better watch out as Wicklow is on the rise!
So thank you to everyone who has made this day possible. Take a bow because something very special has been created here which deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Well done.
Thank you.