Last Friday November 16 marked a special day for the Macroom community, as students, teachers, members of the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) and distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the official opening of a brand new state-of-the-art ASD unit at McEgan College. Having successfully secured permission for this vital unit from Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála in June of 2017, the work was completed in recent months and the modern, fully-equipped space is now in operation.
McEgan College is a co-educational school providing a broad curriculum to both girls and boys up to Leaving Certificate level, catering for school-going children from the town of Macroom and its rural hinterland. The college, which has gone from strength-to-strength over the past 83 years, provides students of all ages and at all levels with a truly inclusive educational experience and prides itself on welcoming each child in the community through the creation of learning opportunities, regardless of their intellectual ability. The opening of McEgan’s new ASD unit is testament to this, as the college will now be able to accommodate eight students with a mild to moderate General Learning Disability (MGLD). The new educational space comprises one state-of-the-art classroom, a universal access toilet/shower room and quiet room.
Top consultants Bertie Pope & Associates had been appointed by McEgan College to ensure that all steps and statutory requirements were met to prepare the site for this all-important build.
In attendance at last Friday’s official opening were teachers and students of McEgan College, along with their parents, Ted Owens, Chief Executive of CETB and Pat McKelvey, Director of Schools of CETB. The Macroom-based Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed TD was on-hand to officiate the opening.
Speaking at the event, Pat McKelvey commented: “It’s a wonderful day for the broader Macroom community but bears particular significance to the students of McEgan College, who will directly benefit from this new unit. Since planning permission was initially granted, we have been waiting patiently for this day to come and we are so grateful to all who had a hand in this fantastic project.
“The teachers here in McEgan College continuously have the best interests of their young students at heart and with the addition of this new facility, they will be able to cater for those that need it most, helping them to grow and develop through education and meet their full potential.”
To find out more about McEgan College or to enrol your child for the upcoming school year, email info.office@mcegan.ie or call 026 41076.
