Wicklow's St Catherine's Special School hosts garden party to mark 50th anniversary
The joyful garden party held under clear blue skies was brought together by past and present staff, students, and supporters.
The day was filled with music, dance, and heartfelt reminiscence as attendees reflected on the school's journey from humble beginnings in 1972, operating from a borrowed room in Newcastle Hospital, to its present-day status as a vibrant and growing educational community with 89 students and a new purpose-built campus in Kilcoole on the horizon.
Kilcoole Thrift Shop surprised the St Catherine's Special School community with a very generous donation towards the running costs of their school bus.
Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, was part of the celebrations, and praised everyone involved in the success of the school over the past five decades.
She stated: 'There was such warmth in the air, in the smiles of students, the stories of long-time staff, and the pride of parents. It's a reflection of what this school has meant to so many people across Wicklow. It's not just a school, it's a symbol of determination, compassion, and the unwavering belief in every child's right to an education that supports and values them.
'I want to congratulate everyone who has been part of this incredible journey, from the visionaries who first gathered in the Royal Hotel in Arklow over sixty years ago, to the current staff and school leadership who are carrying that legacy forward.
"Principal and staff at St. Catherine's continue to demonstrate what is possible when education is rooted in care, courage and community. I am particularly excited for the future of the school, with the announcement of a state-of-the-art new facility in Kilcoole. It's a testament to the continued commitment to giving every child the space, support, and respect they deserve.'
The stars of the show at the garden party were the schools 'Lámh to Dance' group and singing group. The family and friends of staff member Anne Reburn donated the celebration cake along with some fabulous bunting and decorations as a gesture of appreciation for all the love, encouragement and support their treasured Vicky got from everyone in St Catherine's, during her time with the school.
The Verve donated the deck chairs, gazebos, bean bags and parasols which enriched the atmosphere of the garden party, while Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor were thanked for lending the marquee that was used.
Fresh Today donated all of the refreshments served on the day, and The Coffee Place, Newtown, provided the cakes and sweet treats. Pupils from St David's School, Greystones, gave up their first-day of the summer holidays to help out with all the parking on the day.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Irish Times
Eight international protection accommodation contracts terminated in first four months of 2025
Seven International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) contracts with commercial accommodation providers were ended in the first four months of the year for reasons including noncompliance with planning, fire safety and other regulations, the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, has said. More than 90 per cent of all international protection accommodation is provided on a commercial basis, with hotels, B&Bs and other centres taking up contracts to provide beds for people arriving in the State seeking asylum. This reliance on private providers led to the Government spending more than €1 billion on international protection accommodation last year. The budget for this year is €1.2 billion. Concerns have been raised about standards at some private accommodation centres, which are not all subject to independent inspections. READ MORE Mr O'Callaghan has said his preference is for international protection applicants to be housed in State-owned accommodation. Figures released by his department in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon show that between January 1st and May 7th last, eight contracts with private accommodation providers were terminated. This represented 140 bed spaces. The department said seven of the contracts were ended by the State side, with one terminated by the provider. 'I am informed that reasons for termination can vary but can include noncompliance with contractual terms or with regulatory requirements like building and fire regulations or planning matters,' Mr O'Callaghan said. 'In the same period, 12 new IPAS accommodation contracts have been agreed, accounting for capacity of up to 848 bed spaces.' [ International protection overhaul an 'important step' in wider reform, Minister says Opens in new window ] Mr O'Callaghan said the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation 'will continue to be necessary' in the short to medium term, but it is being contracted on a short-term basis to allow the 'State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates'. Mr Gannon said he had sought figures on the numbers of IPAS contracts that were ending following a media interview given by Mr O'Callaghan last month. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the Minister said 'many' of the agreements with private providers were 'now being terminated'. He said this was 'because if the numbers are going down, we don't need to have as many places for accommodation as provided before'. Mr Gannon said the figures released to him showed there had, in reality, been more contracts created than ended this year. 'So, far from winding things down, the system is expanding,' Mr Gannon said. While he welcomed planned reforms such as faster processing times for international protection applications, Mr Gannon said the fairness of the system matters 'just as much' as the speed of it. 'The truth is, Ireland is already failing to meet its legal obligations. In December, over 3,000 asylum seekers were left homeless,' he said. 'In April, the European Court of Justice confirmed that housing shortages are no excuse for denying basic care. We can't afford to play politics with facts, or with people's lives. The real issue isn't too many beds, it's too little planning, too much reliance on the private sector, and not enough focus on human rights and dignity at the core of the system.' In April, the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner said IPAS centres had been the subject of six whistleblowing allegations last year. It said these centres were an 'emerging theme' for the office and it raised concerns about 'the lack of uniformity of the inspection regime' for them. The Department of Justice said: 'Owing to the protected nature of protected disclosures, the department does not comment on whether such disclosures have been made in any specific instance.'
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Mental Health Bill bypassing health committee ‘sets a dangerous precedent', says chair
Bringing the Mental Health Bill straight to the Dáil and bypassing the Oireachtas health committee is 'not in line with best practice' and 'sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of this term', its chairman has said. Last week, Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler secured Cabinet approval of the Government's committee-stage amendments to the bill, which will significantly overhaul the State's mental health laws. A spokesman for the Minister said 'given the already busy agenda' of the Health Committee, she decided to bring the Bill to the floor of the Dáil 'where every Deputy will have the opportunity to speak on the committee-stage amendments to the Bill'. [ Admitting a patient without consent and not treating them isn't 'care' - it's imprisonment Opens in new window ] Pádraig Rice, chairman of the health committee, wrote to the Minister on Thursday criticising this decision. READ MORE Mr Rice, the Social Democrats ' spokesman on health, said the committee had agreed to undertake extra sessions each week to progress the Bill. 'It is therefore with disappointment, and some frustration, that we learned [on Wednesday] of your plans to bypass the joint committee and bring the Bill straight to the Dáil,' his letter said. 'This Bill is of significant importance and deserves due consideration. Taking this Bill and the hundreds of amendments that are being proposed and expected in the Dáil is not in line with best practice, does the issue a disservice and sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of this term.' Mr Rice said following his appointment as chair, he expressed an intention to 'work in a spirit of co-operation and partnership with Government and opposition alike'. 'I would appreciate if a similar approach was reciprocated,' he added, requesting the Minister to reconsider her decision. A spokesman for the Minister said she is 'determined to ensure the Mental Health Bill progresses to enactment before the end of the year'. 'The Bill has been in development for many years, and received support from all sides of the house at second stage last autumn. 'This is far from unprecedented, and many bills have been taken through committee stage on the floor of the House. As Chief Whip, the Minister will ensure the Bill is afforded ample time on the Dáil schedule to allow all of the amendments to be debated fully,' the spokesman said. If enacted, the new mental health bill will regulate the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) and other community services for the first time. It will also allow 16- and 17-year-olds the right to consent to mental healthcare as they already can for physical health. Under amendments brought to Cabinet this week, an individual who is involuntarily admitted to an acute psychiatric unit can be detained for up to 42 days, an increase on the 21 days previously proposed under the bill.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
More than 100 families in Dublin at risk of homelessness as tenant-in-situ applications paused
More than 100 families in Dublin are at risk of homelessness after Dublin City Council paused new applications to the tenant-in-situ scheme due to a lack of funding, council figures indicate. The scheme allows local authorities to buy properties where the tenants are facing eviction because the landlord is selling. It applies to tenants who have received a notice of termination, are deemed at risk of homelessness and who qualify for social housing support such as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). New restrictions were applied to the scheme this year, including a stipulation that the home must be in the HAP or RAS system for at least two years. READ MORE There have also been lengthy delays in the issuing of Government funding to the scheme as Minister for Housing James Browne reviewed its terms. The council's head of housing Mick Mulhern told city councillors at the end of March that no confirmation of its funding allocation had been sent by the Department of Housing . [ Housing Minister James Browne: 'If we don't get this right over the next four to seven months, we're going to be in serious, serious trouble' Opens in new window ] At that point there were 104 applications to the council for access to the scheme. The council spent €117 million on 261 tenant-in-situ and 83 vacant property acquisitions in 2024. However, following an inquiry by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne last week, the council confirmed in correspondence that 'the tenant-in-situ scheme is no longer operating' and that 'the funding has been withdrawn'. When asked to comment on the remarks, the council said: 'The acquisitions section have confirmed that the 2025 budget for the tenant-in-situ (TiS) scheme has been allocated, and that DCC will not be purchasing any further properties through the TiS scheme until 2026.' Mr Hearne said the decision was 'absolutely unacceptable' and would result in 'families and children being thrown into homelessness'. 'It also goes against the commitment made by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael when they lifted the eviction ban in 2023 that they would provide protections for tenants through a tenant-in-situ scheme, and a supposedly renewed commitment made to the tenant-in-situ scheme this year,' Mr Hearne said. Asked to comment on the correspondence received by Mr Hearne, a spokesman for the council said it had been allocated €95 million for the entire 2025 acquisitions programme. This covers the Buy and Renew Scheme, second-hand acquisitions for elderly people and those with a disability, exits from homelessness and the tenant-in-situ scheme. The council said that of the €95 million allocated for 2025, about €37 million will be used to fund the cost of homes acquired in 2024. [ The homeless university lecturer: 'There's a sense of shame around it' Opens in new window ] A further portion of the €95 million will be used to fund the acquisition of homes that were sale-agreed in 2024, 'but that will only complete in 2025, and a portion will be used to fund the refurbishment costs for works carried out in 2024″, the council said. 'DCC is currently working with the Department of Housing to determine how much of the €95 million will remain once all of the above are accounted for,' the spokesperson said. 'In advance of completing this assessment, DCC is unable to proceed with any new tenant in situ.' The department denied that any funding had been withdrawn, saying: 'The Government is committed to continue tenant-in-situ or second-hand acquisitions as an option for our local authorities.'
