St Catherine’s Parish – New National Schools

St Catherine’s Parish – New National Schools

28 Oct 1901

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE

The foundation stone of the new National Schools for the Catholic Parish, which are already in progress of erection on a very handsome site in Donore Avenue, South Circular Road, was successfully laid on Saturday afternoon’by his Grace the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, who with accompanied on the occasion by Lord .lustice FitzGibbon and the Mayor of Dublin. There was u. large company present at the function, which wa- viewed with a great deal of interest. The schools are being designed to accommodate 490 pupils, and will supply a very pressing educational need in the parish.

The Rev. Mr. Greer, the energetic Rector of the Parish, read a. statement of the work already done in connection with the schools The old scbool in Thomas Court, he stated, were condemned as useless, and, consequently, they were compelled to provide new ones. Dealing with the site, he said that it was admirable but for one drawback, and that was the uncovered condition of the Poddle river. This defect, it appears, will be soon removed, for the Corporation are alive to the necessity of covering tie. river, and the Municipal representatives of the ward, Mr. J. Cox in particular, are very active in the matter. The total cost of the new school* will be about £305, of which the Commissioners have already subscribed £1,846. The balance, is to be obtained by means of voluntary contributions.

The stone then lowered into it place and his Grace, luring been presented with in ornamental mallet and silver trowel bearing an appropriate inscription, performed the ceremony, concluding with. the words: “I declare this stone well and truly bid, andwell and truly laid and I pray that God may pray and prosper the work.

The Lord Mayor, in seconding the vote of thanks, said there was one observation of his Grace to which he felt it was his duty to give his most hearty concurrence, and if was this, that in Ireland, however broad their differences might be on other questions, they all would stood firmly by each other on their position that education should not be divorced from religion (hear, hear).

And this country and every section of its people whatever their religious views might be, would refuse to accept the doctrine that- the education of youth and the training of youth  for the future battle of Iife should be divorced from the  instructions which they received in religion and in morality.

The Archbishop and the lord Justice had referred to the position in which the school was situated, and the Lord Justice reminded then that one of the troubles of the situation was the proximity to the Poddle river. He (the Lord Mayor) confessed that he was very much interested to know —and, of course  they could have it from no better authority—that the difficulty about the Poddle river was an very ancient; but he thought one of the things could promise on behalf of the Corporation was that though the Irish and the British Parliaments might have failed in settling that very troublesome question, the Corporation of Dublin were going to put an end to it (hear, hear)

View News Article Online