On This Day in 1972: Ireland’s first community school opens in Tallaght

On this day in 1972 Ireland’s very first community school opened in Tallaght in a temporary building at the old Vocational school in the village.

The school would later become Tallaght Community School and would move to a new building in Balrothery.

There was much controversy around the new type of school, but speaking at the time, then Principal Padraic Heeran said: “I think the parents in Tallaght will be very satisfied with this school.

“They will see that it offers everything that a school can offer and when we get to the new building in a years time we intend to offer a very broad curriculum, but our students will be prepared meticulously for the traditional examination aswell.”

On whether Mr Heeran thought the school would remain as a community one and not be taken over by any religious interest he said: “I think this is one of those fears which will simply not be justified and when you see what we do next year I think you will get a very adequate answer to that question.”

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