Former principal writes book with proceeds going to Solas Chriost
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A WINDOW view into the history of Solas Chriost National School and the area of Tallaght that surrounds it will be explored in a new book written by the school’s former principal, with all proceeds from the book going towards the funding of new equipment for the school.
Pat Keogh, who was the principal of Solas Chriost from 1988 until his retirement in 2013, spent several months working on ‘Solas Chriost and Tallaght: A Window View’, which looks at the history of the school in the context of the growth of Tallaght.
Pat witnessed the substantial growth of the Tallaght area during his time as school principal, and saw it change from being a small village to a bustling town centre.
His book explores the history of the Belgard area, and also the development of Solas Chriost over the years.
The former principal said that he got the idea for the book when he was having lunch with Eddie Kelly, the current school principal, and they were discussing the history of the area Eddie suggested that Pat should write a book about it.
The author, who has written six other books, explained that the school was unique as when it was built in 1977 and it contained “shared area teaching”.
This meant that there was one large classroom with two smaller classrooms beside it, where the students who had a similar level of learning ability would be in the large classroom, while the two smaller classrooms were used to help students who may have had difficulties learning, which was unique for its time as SNAs didn’t exist at that stage.
The book also looks at the development of the water systems that serve the Tallaght area, like the Bohernabreena and Poulaphouca Reservoirs, and also the history of Belgard House.
Pat told The Echo: “I suppose the book is the completion of the work that I’ve been doing.
“Writing is my hobby. Whereas other people might play golf, I write.”
The ‘Solas Chriost and Tallaght: A Window View’ paperback book is available for purchase in Newsbees Newsagents in Belgard Heights and in Solas Chriost National School for €12.50, and a limited amount of copies can be purchased online at www.omahonys.ie
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