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Source: Connacht Tribune, January 23rd 1937
A deputation consisting of Messrs. S. Jordan, T. D. Daly, Duffy and Curran came before the meeting to urge the claims of Athenry to a vocational educational school. Mr Jordan said he had no doubt from statistics that vocational school in Athenry would secure a good attendance and the school would cater for Oranmore, Craughwell and other outlying areas.
He suggested that an advertisement for sites be issued. Rev. Canon Moran agreed that Athenry would be a good centre for a school. On the proposition of the Right Rev. Monsignor Joyce, seconded by Rev. Canon Moran, it was agreed that a deputation consisting of Canon Moran, Mr. Corbett, Mr. R.N. Sheridan, Department Inspector and the secretary to go into the question of selecting suitable sites with a committee from Athenry. The secretary read a letter from Miss Ashe supporting the suggestion that a school be erected in Athenry.
Vocational School Athenry
Source: Contact Magazine 1979
By the autumn of 1980 it is hoped to have the extension costing approximately £350,000 to the vocational school completed. In terms of student enrolment and the most up to date facilities it will be the largest vocational school within the Administrative area of the County Galway VEC. Incorporated in the new extension will be many specialist rooms and also provided will be a closed circuit television room. Assembly hall cum gymnasium, office machines room and male and female changing rooms with showers. As part of the present development a large area will be tarmacadamed so as to accommodate the provision of tennis courts. When the entire project has been completed there will be accommodation for 400 students; design and facilities in accordance with the most modern educational thinking.
The Growth and Development of Athenry Vocational School (Gairmscoil Mhuire)
By Seamus Cullinane, Principal, Gairmscoil Mhuire, Athenry (1992)
AthenryVocational School was the last vocational school to be built by County Galway V.E.C. The birth of this school was difficult, long and protracted. In the mid-sixties a site was selected, the price agreed on and the vendor waited approximately one year for contract documents that were never issued. Evidently, in the intervening period an alternative site was proposed to County Galway V.E.C. and was finally purchased as the site for AthenryVocational School.
A site in 1968
This period coincided with rationalisation proposals of educational facilities by the Department of Education. Various structures were suggested for the Athenry catchment area but unanimous agreement on a suitable structure proved elusive. Ultimately, it was decided to locate the Vocational School in close proximity to the PresentationCollege run by the Presentation Sisters. This necessitated exchanging the County Galway V.E.C. site for lands owned by the Presentation Sisters and this exchange was finalised in March 1968. It was envisaged then that both post-primary schools would co-operate in sharing some specialist facilities, and I am pleased to report that this has worked to good effect over the years.
By June 1968 Athenry had a site for a Vocational School but no school. It was a matter of urgency to have facilities for incoming students in September 1968. A small secondary top school in an adjoining parish was to cease operations in the summer of 1968. Similarly, a small Vocational school operating in a disused national school in Abbeyknockmoy on the periphery of, but outside our catchment area, also closed its doors in the summer of 1968. Existing students of both these schools were now free to choose a second level school of their choice.
Accommodation Problem
The instant answer to an accommodation problem was to provide prefabs and promise a new school. During the summer of 1968 a gap was bulldozed in the stone wall fronting the school site, rough gravel paths were laid and three prefabricated classrooms with toilet accommodation were erected. AthenryVocational School was now a visible educational landmark on the Athenry topography. The enrolment in September 1968 was 95 students ranging from First year to Inter Cert. The school had to provide second and third year students with subjects taken in previous schools and this included the provision of the teaching of the Classics to students from the former vocational school in Abbeyknockmoy. The painful process of now obtaining sanction for a new school took on an added momentum. The limbo period in prefabs was considered over when a new school was sanctioned and construction commenced in 1971.
The new school was officially opened on Monday 21st May 1973 at high noon by Mr. John Bruton T.D. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education. It comprised the traditional vocational school accommodation relevant to the needs of the 1940s and 1950s but not to a forward looking vision of an educational campus serving the diverse and complex needs of young people in this millennium and entering 2000 and beyond. It had the traditional woodwork room, metal work room, home economics room, rural science room, a general subjects and a commerce room. In his address at the official opening, Mr. Bruton has this to say, ‘Already accommodation originally planned has proved insufficient and temporary buildings had to be provided to cater for expanding enrolments’. Suffice to say that the day Mr. Bruton was speaking, a considerable percentage of the student body were receiving their instruction in prefabs; not very laudatory of the forward planning process often so eloquently advocated by the Department of Education, but regrettably no more that the exposition of a theory and not matched with practical action.
Permanent Accommodation and 1981 Extension
The problem of permanent accommodation for us is a kin to the recurring decimal – never ending. Agitation for an adequate extension to the initial truncated school was reactivated once more. The usual road blocks were encountered. The Department of Education advising over the years that we had reached our maximum potential enrolment and over capacity would ensue.
Photos: The Connacht Tribune
However, undeterred we were successful in obtaining approval for an extension which was completed and officially opened by Mr John Boland, Minister for Education on the 27th of October 1981. This gave us a temporary respite from decant prefabs. It was short lived as our enrolment continued to grow.
On the 29th April, 1992, Co. Galway VEC received authorisation to proceed with a substantial extension to our school. It is expected work to commence in the autumn of 1992.
Dramatic Growth The development and growth of our school has been dramatic by any standards. We had thrived in adversity. From an enrolment of approximately 90 students to a present day enrolment in excess of 600 students is noteworthy and impressive as shown in accompanying Enrolments Trends Histogram.
It is our wish to go on serving the needs of the people of our area. We intent to proceed by honestly and constructively evaluating our past by being analytical of our present and percipient in regard to the future demand and educational needs of the area we serve.
Athenry Vocational School
By Seamus Cullinane, Principal.
Source: Athenry Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1996.
School’s Philosophy
AthenryVocational School aims to develop in its pupils a wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding within a secure and happy environment that encourages the student to grow in self-confidence and in respect for one another.
Large School-Small Classes
Athenry vocational school is arguably the largest rural vocational school in Ireland. From an initial enrolment of 64 first year students in 1968 to the present student enrolment of 760 students is by any degree most significant and impressive. This dramatic increase in student numbers is attributable in the main to the reputation the school has as a centre of educational excellence. Innovation and adaptation, fair but firm discipline are all readily recognisable features of the school. While the school is indeed large by any standards it has always been school policy to keep classed as small as is humanly possible. To this end we have no First Year class in excess of 24 students and we shall continue to strive to maintain this most favourable pupil teacher ratio.
Looking Ahead-B.B.S. Degree Course
It is our wish to go on serving the needs of the people of our area. We intend to proceed by honestly and constructively evaluating our past and present and by being percipient with regard to the future demands and educational needs of the area we serve. To this end we are offering the BBS degree course (Bachelor of Business Studies) in this school as from September 1996. If any individual or group of people would wish a certain programme or course of study be available in the Athenry area, we extend an open invitation, through the Athenry Journal, to contact us and we give our assurance that we will be willing respondents.
Setting the Records
We have the unique and special distinction of winning five All Ireland Hurling championships in a row. We take particular pride in this magnificent achievement and this is just one facet of sport and leisure activity that is exceptionally well catered for in our school. We, however wish to publicly acknowledge the immense contribution made by national schools, clubs and individuals in developing the talents and skills of young people. We just continue with the development of their talents and skills when they enrol with us.
Future Develoments
We are in the process of erecting a large canteen/multi-purpose hall. This project is parent led and we wish to acknowledge the inestimable contribution of our Parents council and our parents in general. They already have provided us with a playing pitch at a cost of £68,000 and now have funded the canteen/multi-purpose hall to the extent of £100,000. We are blessed in having such an active, positive and constructive parents council. As we look to the future may that future be a s bright as our past is proud.
V.E.C. Head Office comes to Athenry
Source: Athenry ADC’s publication The Athenry Journal 2004
On Wednesday 3rd March the contracts for the refurbishment of the Old Railway Hotel were signed in the VEC offices in Galway. The former Railway Hotel, which was built in 1870, was acquired by the VEC in the early 1950s. It served as a Hotel Training School from 1959 to 1972, when the opening of the Regional Technical College rendered it redundant.
Since then a number of pre-nursing coursing have been held there, but over the past few years, it has begun to fall into disrepair. This beautiful old Victorian building, which is so much a part of Abhenry’s heritage, will be refurbished over the next few months. The relocation of one of the largest education providers in Connacht, with an annual expenditure of some 18 million, will add to the growing stature of Athenry and provide a considerable boost to the local economy.
