CASTLETOWN National School in St Johnston was filled with celebration on Saturday as pupils, staff, parents and members of the local community gathered to officially open the school’s newly built classroom and playground facilities.

The event marked the culmination of several years of planning, fundraising and construction that have transformed the school grounds.

Principal Liesel Toner welcomed guests to the ceremony, which began with a prayer and opening remarks from Reverend Craig Wilson, who praised the beautiful new facilities in the school.

Chairperson of the Board of Management, Maurice Graham, and Chairperson of the Parents’ Association, Amanda Wilson, both addressed the crowd, expressing their gratitude for the support and generosity throughout the years which made this amazing space possible.

Sixth-class pupil Jamie Middleton shared a heartfelt speech about his time at Castletown NS, noting how delighted he was to see the completion of the school’s new astro turf pitch, complete with new goalposts for football.

Senior room pupils Matthew Middleton, Caleb Toner and Holly Wilson recited original poems celebrating the new facilities.

The youngest pupil, Lily-May Tinney and oldest pupil, Jamie Middleton, held the red ribbon for the official opening. Former principal Winnie McCracken, who returned to perform the ribbon-cutting, reflected on her years at the school and the many changes that have happened taken place.

The new classroom project began with planning permission granted in June 2021 and was completed by December 2022.

Its completion allowed the middle classes to move out of temporary prefab buildings into the beautiful new classroom.

With the extension affecting the previous playground area, the Board of Management purchased 0.4 acres of land from a local farmer to redevelop the outdoor space, including demolishing and rebuilding the boundary wall which was affected by defective concrete.

Despite receiving no funding from the Department of Education for the project, the school community came together to raise the necessary funds.

Castletown NS now boasts a fully fenced astro pitch, additional astro play areas, large tarred spaces and a rubber-matted area with further development planned.