New school planned for historic Mayo building

HOPES are high that the long delayed Educate Together primary school in the Castlebar area will become a reality in September.

Marsh House, an attractive building on the banks of the town river which dates back to the last century, has been identified as a suitable location for the centre, which will be non-denominational.

The Department of Education and Skills has applied to Mayo County Council for a change of use of the existing protected structure from office space to educational.

If planning permission is granted the new school will be up and running by the start of the new school year in September.

Jarlath Munnelly of Educate Together says that Marsh House is an ideal location for the school and all parents involved are ‘very happy’ with the structural standard of the building and its central location.

Fifteen pupils are ready for enrolment and a principal, Sandra Calvey from Achill, has been appointed.

Originally it was planned to base the Educate Together school in the former Burren National School, four to five miles north of Castlebar.

But parents of prospective students objected on the grounds (rejected by the department) that the building was unsuitable, too old and simply not fit for purpose.

The project was put in abeyance for a year after the department insisted the school be located in Burren.

Now comes the welcome news that the project is very firmly back on track.

“If we get the go ahead from the planners there is absolutely no reason why the school won’t open in September.

“The department (education) has been working very hard and the county council (which owns Marsh House) is being very supportive,” Mr. Munnelly said.

Marsh House is the former headquarters of the old Castlebar Urban Council.