This article is from page 12 of the 2006-10-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
PARENTS, staff and students of Seamount College in Kinvara have appealed to the Sisters of Mercy to give them time to come up with with a rescue package for the school following last week’s announcement that it is to be phased out over the next three years.
Hundreds of locals attended a crisis public meeting in the village on Friday evening to discuss the “shock” announcement that the school was to be wound down.
“Our primary concern at this point is for time and space to sort this out,” said Jane Joyce of the Parents Committee. “We all know that Kinvara needs a school. We know that Gort is full and Oranmore is full so we don’t know where our children are to go.”
Serious concerns have also been raised at the manner in which the announcement was made.
“It is unprecedented that the ASTI were not informed of the closure until the announcement was made on Thursday,” commented school principal Eileen Mulkerins on Friday night.
Ms Mulkerins went on to dispute the reasons given by the Sisters of Mercy for closure of the school, stating that student numbers are increasing and far in excess of the 150 mentioned by the Department of Education, that facilities were up to scratch and that the curriculum being provided was more than adequate.
The campaign to save the school has been given the complete backing of the three remaining Sisters of Mercy remaining at Seamount.
“The closure comes as a great shock to the resident Sisters of Mercy, and they are devastated,” said Sister Pius, a retired teacher at Seamount. “We hope that this meeting will put pressure on our headquarters in Ballinasloe to give a clearer message about their decision.”
Seamount College was set up by the Sisters of Mercy in 1921. The school is located on grounds donated to the Sisters of Mercy by a local woman on the condition that a school be established.