St Bronagh’s Primary School Officially Opens

The New £5 million St Bronagh’s Primary School and Youth Centre officially opens in Rostrevor. 

The brand new award winning accommodation at St Bronagh’s Primary School and Youth Centre in Rostrevor officially opened today.

The joint project sees the development of a seven classroom school which now caters for almost 200 pupils and a youth centre that hosts a range of programmes including sports, drama and arts for the local community.

Offical opening of St Bronagh’s Primary School and Youth Centre in Rostrevor – pictured L-R John Gallagher-Principal, Fr Kearns Chair of Board of Governors, Bishop Phillip Boyce, Fiona Hepper-Deputy Permanent Secretary Department of Education, Gerry Campbell, CCMS, Stephen Creagh-Head of Capital Investment Team with pupils Erin McGinn, Ceallagh Farrell, Val Farrell, Aoife Farrell, Maisie Tinnelly.

In March 2016 Ganson UK was appointed to take forward the construction of the new school and youth centre. St Bronagh’s Primary School was completed in September 2017 and the youth centre was completed in June 2018. St Bronagh’s Primary School won the Sustainability Award in May 2018, and won the Liam McCormick Prize for Building of the Year at the RSUA Design Awards. Also, the awards continued on this impressive building as Mr Paul McMahon from Donnelly/O’Neill won Project Architect of the year for his work on the school.

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education, Fiona Hepper, performed the official opening by unveiling plaques in both the school and the youth centre. She said: “It gives me great pleasure to be here today to officially open St Bronagh’s Primary School and Youth Centre.

Pictured (l-r)  Canon Hackett, Father Kearns, Jimmy Morgan Treasurer of St Bronagh’s Youth Centre, Bishop Phillip Boyce, and Fiona Hepper Deputy Permanent Secretary, Department of Education.

“This £5 million investment delivers significant and positive change to the daily life of pupils, teachers and the wider community. At St Bronagh’s Primary School and Youth Centre a new chapter begins with brand new eco-friendly accommodation for our young people to enjoy and flourish.”

John Gallagher, school Principal, said: “As a staff and a school community we are thrilled to be able to have this beautiful building in a wonderful setting to encourage an atmosphere of learning. Our pupils were very involved in the design process and met with the architects during development to share their ideas.

“Our work with the design team contributed to us achieving Ambassador Eco-School Status in 2018; a very prestigious recognition of our environmental ethos. We were also thrilled to learn that the building has since won a prestigious RUSA Design Award – the Liam McCormick Prize for Building of the Year 2018.