Official Opening and Dedication of Ashton Comprehensive School, Cork

As second-level students prepare to go back to school next Monday, the minds of staff and students at Ashton Comprehensive School, Cork will go back to the final day of last term, Friday, 27th March. They return to a new school building that was dedicated that Friday by the Bishop, co-patron of the school, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, and officially opened by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ms Jan O’Sullivan, T.D.

It was an historic and momentous occasion for everyone in the school. Principal, Adrian Landen, Deputy Principal, Anne-Marie Hewison, the school staff, prefects, and the Board, under the chairmanship of John Deane, had everything arranged to perfection. The school gymnasium was full for the Church Service led by school chaplain, Drew Ruttle. John Deane acted as Master of Ceremonies. The Principal thanked everyone who needed to be thanked. The Minister added her good wishes and congratulations. The Bishop spoke on behalf of himself and his co-patron the Cork Education and Training Board. He remarked that he himself had been there as a student on 10th March, 1975 when the previous school building on the site was officially opened, and held up his school blazer from that day as ‘exhibit a’ in evidence. On behalf of everyone, the Bishop singled out the tenacious commitment and work of one man – John Deane – who, with successive principals – Charles Payne, Bertie Smith and Adrian Landen – had worked to get the school a new building and to bring the project to completion.

Also present were: Mrs Susan Colton, Mr Ted Owens (CEO of Cork Education and Training Board), Dr Edward Gash (Principal of Midleton College), Mr Ian Coombes (Principal of Bandon Grammar School), Bishop Samuel and Mrs Noreen Poyntz, Bishop Roy and Mrs Eileen Warke, Bishop Michael Mayes, the Very Reverend Nigel and Mrs Isobel Dunne, the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson, Mrs Marjorie Bond (wife of the school’s first Principal, the late Victor Bond), Mrs Barbro McCutcheon (wife of the late Sam McCutcheon, Principal of Cork Grammar and Rochelle School), Charles Payne (former Principal), Bertie Smith (former Principal), the Reverend Elaine Murray (Bishop’s Chaplain), and many former board members including, Department inspectors, representatives of the former Cork City VEC. The choir assembled especially for the occasion was under the direction of Malcolm Wisener, Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.

Here are the photos of am historic and wonderful day of celebration:

: The Minister arrives. l-r the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Shields, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ms Jan O’Sullivan, T.D. and the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton

: The Minister and Bishop chat as they walk outside the old Cork Grammar School building, now restored.

: On arrival the Minister poses at the Cork Grammar School World War I Memorial in the link corridor between the old Cork Grammar School building and the new school building. l-r John Deane, the Bishop, the Minister, Heidi (Head Girl), the Lord Mayor of Cork, Philip (Head Boy), Ted Owens, CEO of the CETB, Adrian Landen, Principal, and Deirdre Clune, M.E.P.

: The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Shields and the Bishop await the arrival of the Minister

: In the Board Room awaiting the arrival of the Minister: l-r Heidi, Head Girl, Adrian Landen, Principal, Ted Owens, CEO of CETB, Micheál Martin, T.D., the Lord Mayor of Cork, the Bishop, and John Deane, Chairperson of the Board of Management, and Philip, Head Boy.

: Students at the Service in the school gymnasium

: Students at the Service in the school gymnasium

: Students at the Service in the school gymnasium

: Students at the Service in the school gymnasium

: Students at the Service in the school gymnasium

: Chairperson, John Deane presides at the formalities

: Students applaud the speeches

: The Bishop

: The Bishop shows the crowd the blazer he wore at the official opening in 1975

: The Lord Mayor, Ted Owens and the Bishop

: The Lord Mayor, Ted Owens and the Bishop

: The entire school formed a guard of honour

: The entire school formed a guard of honour

: The Minister declares the school officially open while former Bishops of Cork, Bishop Roy Warke and Dr Samuel Poyntz look on

: Depupty Principal, Anne-Marie Hewison (left) with Board member, Amanda Welch

: l-r Teacher, Carmel Murphy speaks with Mrs Eileen Warke and Bishop Roy Warke, former Bishop of Cork

: Enjoying lunch afterwards

: Former Bishop of Cork, Roy Warke, speaks with Anne Walls

: The cake!

: No doubt the Bishop had something to say to the Minister for Education and Skills (he usually does!)

: Past pupil of Rochelle and Ashton, Dr Alicia St Leger, and past pupil of Cork Grammar School, Dr Ian d’Alton, both of them historians of the schools, share memories

: The new school flag is raised for the first time

: The new school flag is raised for the first time

: The new school flag is raised for the first time

: The new school flag is raised for the first time

: The new school flag is raised for the first time

: The plaque is unveiled l-r, Ciarán Lynch, T.D., Cllr Mary Shields (Lord Mayor of Cork), Ms Jan O’Sullivan, T.D. (Minister for Education and Skills), the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton (Bishop of Cork, Co-Patron of the School), Mr Adrian Landen (Principal), Mr John Deane (Chairperson of the Board of Management), and Mr Ted Owens (CEO of CETB, Co-Patron of the school)