St Kevin’s school marks 40years of teaching in Kilnamanagh

IT’S 40 years since Scoil Naomh Caoimhín Buachaillí, Kilnamanagh, officially opened. The principal at the time was Mr Liam Mac Mathúna and from early days the school expanded rapidly to cater for over 900 pupils in the late 1980s.

Today, there are 330 boys enrolled with a further two classes of infants due to join in September. There are currently 17 teachers and 4 Special Needs Assistants working in the school.

A year prior to the Boys’ School opening, St Kevin’s School for Boys and Girls opened on the same Treepark Road site; but in September 1976, 129 boys moved across the campus to their own new building.

The school was extended in the mid-1980s to accommodate 24 classes, and at one stage also had a number of pre-fabs.

To celebrate 40 years of teaching and learning St Kevin’s Boys School will host several events this month for students currently enrolled and for those who have passed through its doors since 1976.

Celebrations officially started on Tuesday, June 14 with a Mass of Thanksgiving, which Bishop Eamonn Walsh celebrated along with Fr Michael Murphy.

There are several other events planned in which former students, their parents and retired staff members are invited to take part.

These include an ‘Open Evening’ at the school on Monday, June 27 from 7.30 pm. This is an opportunity to visit the Alma Mater, take a trip down memory lane, meet old friends and enjoy the play which the senior boys’ will perform on the night.

A time capsule which has been prepared to mark the 40th anniversary will be buried during the course of the evening.

A 40th Anniversary Social Evening will take place on Saturday, June 25 in the Kilnamanagh Community Centre. This is in conjunction with the St Kevin’s Kilian’s GAA Annual Cycle Rally from Kilnamanagh to Glendalough, which takes place earlier in the day.

Tickets for the social evening are available to purchase from St Kevin’s Boys School, or for further details people may contact the school on 01-4517925.

Those interested in taking part in the Rally Event itself must register on www.stkevinskilliansgaa.com.

St Kevin’s Boys School would love to receive old photos or memorabilia of events which took place at the school since its foundation in 1976. We’d love if former students, staff, etc would send old photos and share their memories with us.

The school are also interested in getting snap shots of “multi-generations” or photographs of the school’s actual construction etc. The email address for photos is skbnsphotos@gmail.com or at the facebook page facebook.com/ skbns40/.

The current students of St Kevin’s Boys School will get to enjoy the 40th Birthday celebrations during the next two weeks, events will include the Fun Day, a ‘Great Anniversary Bake Off’, ‘St Kevin’s Got Talent’, and a giant table quiz, and the burial of a Time Capsule.