On Monday, 26th September, the Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, was among religious leaders, community representatives, and civic guests who had accepted an invitation from Mr Colm O’Connor (School Principal) to the launch, in the Aula Maxima, University College, Cork, of the new Cork Educate Together Secondary School.

This is the first such Educate Together secondary school in Munster, and the first outside Dublin.  Educate Together now runs 81 primary schools in the State, and the Cork Educate Together Secondary School is the ninth second level school under the patronage of Educate Together.

The attendance at the launch of Cork’’s first Educate Together Secondary School (CETSS) which was officially launched at UCC.
Picture: Billy macGill

The 47 students, the entry group and pioneers of this Cork school, gave a musical welcome to the large group of parents, friends and invited guests including the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh, Minister Simon Coveney, T.D., the leader of the Opposition, Micheál Martin, T.D., Micheal McGrath, T.D., Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, T.D., and Senator Jerry Buttimer.  Emeritus Professor of Education at UCC, Áine Hyland, who was a founder of the Educate Together school over forty years ago was present as were Dr Emer Nowlan (Educate Together), and the launch itself was performed by the President Emeritus of UCC, Professor Michael Mortell.

Photographed at the launch of Cork’’s first Educate Together Secondary School (CETSS) which was officially launched at UCC were; Simon Coveney, TD; Bishop of Cork Dr. Paul Colton and Prof. Michael Mortell.
Picture: Billy macGill

Brian Whiteside of the Humanist Association of Ireland was in attendance, along with representatives of other organisations in Cork, including David Roche from the Cork Gay Project and Kate Moynihan, Project Coordinator of LINC.

Photographed at the launch of Cork’’s first Educate Together Secondary School (CETSS) which was officially launched at UCC were; Sen. Jerry Buttimer; Bishop of Cork, Dr. Paul Colton; Paul O’Shea (UCC) and Dave Roche, Cork Gay Project.
Picture: Billy macGill

Along with the Church of Ireland Bishop, Dr Paul Colton,  other denominations and faiths represented were the Roman Catholic Church (Sister Jenny Clifford), the Reverend John Faris (Presbyterian Church in Ireland), Sabina Nagle (Bahai) and representatives of the Cork Hebrew Congregation and the Russian Orthodox Church.

At the launch, in Aula Maxima, UCC, of Cork’s first Educate Together Secondary School were (l-r) Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork; Sister Jenny Clifford (Roman Catholic Church), Colm O’Connor (School Principal), the Reverend John Faris (Presbyterian Church in Ireland), Sabina Nagle (Bahai) and Brian Whiteside (Humanist Association of Ireland).