In 2005, the Commission on School Accommodation issued a Report which recommended “that a new school on a green field site, should be planned for the Carbury side of Edenderry and within the border of Co. Offaly.” This was in recognition of the rapid expansion in population experienced in the area, and the unprecedented demand for places in existing local primary schools and schools in neighbouring villages. It had become obvious that the existing schools could not continue to accommodate the increasing population of school going pupils in the locality.
An application for a new co-educational school was made on behalf of the proposed patron, Bishop James Moriarty, by Fr. Kevin Walsh CC. On April 24th 2007, the then Minister for Education and Science, Ms. Mary Hanafin, announced recognition of a new school for Edenderry – Scoil Bhríde Primary School.
Work commenced immediately to establish the school. The Principal was appointed and worked in collaboration and co-operation with staff from the Department of Education and Science to meet the necessary requirements to ensure the school could open in September 2007. The help and support of parents and the wider community was invaluable.
A temporary site was arranged with Edenderry GAA and temporary accommodation (340 sq. m) was located on site to facilitate two Junior Infant classes and a much needed Autistic Spectrum Disorder Unit (ASD Unit). This Unit was soon to provide a much needed service not alone for the community of Edenderry but of communities throughout Offaly and neighbouring Co. Kildare.
Mr. Kevin Duffy was appointed as the school’s Principal, Mrs. Debbie Duffy as Deputy Principal and Ms Ciara Kearnery as Class Teacher. In addition, two SNAs were appointed: Ms Brenda Mangan, Mrs Josephine McDonnell.
The school was blessed and officially opened by Bishop James Moriarity on 21st June 2008 with 29 pupils – two Junior Infant Classes and an ASD Class.
Throughout 2007 and into 2008 the school continued to grow. In 2008, an additional five permanent teachers and five new Special Needs Assistants were appointed. Significantly, a Pre-School Unit was established within the ASD Unit – the first of its kind in the county. The temporary accommodation increased to 500m2 – providing two additional classrooms, toilet facilities, resource room, rooms specially adapted for children with special needs, a parent consultation room and storage space.
Work commenced on our new school building and was completed in February 2015. Located in Killane, Edenderry, our new building offers children a state of the art learning environment with modern facilities, technologies and equipment. It has 30 classrooms, a general purpose area, PE hall, libraries, relaxation and ancillary rooms. It also includes the provision of ball courts, junior and senior play areas, bicycle shelters, computing and ICT facilities, a science laboratory, gallery space, occupational therapy room, speech and language room, sensory room, playing pitches and landscaped gardens.
The move to our new school was a very exciting time for us and the children who enrol with us for September 2015 will be the first ‘new’ junior infants to commence school in the new building – a historic moment not only for them but for the whole community!
The school is co-educational and fully-vertical. This, together with the pre-school and primary level services offered by the ASD Unit, means children attending Scoil Bhríde have many opportunities for integration. All children irrespective of gender, race, culture or ability are given equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of school life in Scoil Bhríde.
