O’Neill gives backing to under-threat school

By Roisin Henderson

FIRST Minister Designate, Sinn Fein MLA Michelle O’Neill, has added her backing to the campaign to save St Mary’s Primary School in Fivemiletown.

St Mary’s has the fastest growing enrolment of any primary school in the North and has been widely recognised as been a vital resource in the local community.

However, despite the recognition of its value to the community, and a massive local campaign to save it, the school remains under threat of closure.

The local community responded in its droves to the public consultation on its future, submitting almost 9,000 signatures to the Department of Education, and the responses to that consultation are now also being considered.

Last week, Sinn Fein’s Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Colm Gildernew arranged a meeting between the campaigners and Ms O’Neill, along with other representatives from the
party, including MP Michelle Gildernew.

Speaking afterwards, Ms O’Neill said she was “incredibly impressed by the passion and determination of the representatives of the school community”.

“The children I met were clearly happy and thriving,” said Sinn Fein’s leader in the North. “The school is a bright and vibrant place, and parish priest Fr Brendan Gallagher is clear how vital a role the school plays in the parish.

“The parents and governors I met presented robust and verifiable evidence to show the school’s growing enrolment, its strong financial position and the educational outcomes it is achieving for the children.

“That is why I will be acting urgently to ensure my opposition to the proposal to close the school is made clear to the Department of Education and calling on the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools to withdraw the proposal.

“Closing a small, rural school like this is not in the interests of anyone in the Fivemiletown community, and is the antithesis of the progress we’ve made over the last 25 years.”

HEARTENED

Parent and chairman of the school’s board of governors, Fergal Foy,
said they were heartened Ms O’Neill had given their campaign her backing.

“We were delighted that Michelle O’Neill and her team took the time to meet with us today, talk to parents and children at the school, and really hear the concerns we have about
this proposal, and the impact it
would have on our community,” he said.

“Having fought this campaign for so long, it was a huge boost to have her truly engaging with us on the detail of why our school must stay open. We will continue to fight for our school’s survival, and are so grateful for all of the support we continue to receive throughout this campaign.”