By Michelle Crean

A €10k prize which The Mon won was officially opened on Wednesday as the school welcomed a number of very special guests.

CUTTING THE RIBBON: Minister for Special Needs & Inclusion Josepha Madigan officially cut the ribbon for the new Sensory Pod on Wednesday at The Mon NS. From l-r were: Johanna Whyte (Fresh Today) Principal Mary Brosnan pupil Adam Shine David McGinn (Murray’s Medical) and Jean Dwyer (Fresh Today). Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Welcoming Minister for Special Needs & Inclusion Josepha Madigan (left) to The Mon on Wednesday for the official launch and tour of the Sensory Pod in association with Fresh Today and Murray’s Medical from l-r were: Teacher Olga Ncube AJ O'Shea Adam Shine Principal Mary Brosnan and Jean Dwyer (Fresh Today). Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

GIFT: At her recent visit to The Mon to officially open the school’s new sensory pod Minister for Special Needs & Inclusion Josepha Madigan (right) is presented with a gift from 'Killarney Behind the Mask' author Marie Carroll O'Sullivan (left) &and School Principal Mary Brosnan (centre).

Welcoming Minister for Special Needs & Inclusion Josepha Madigan to The Mon on Wednesday for the official launch of the Sensory Pod from l-r were: Tony Mulcahy (MD Fresh Today) Rahib Ahmad Jahaziel Cabrera Principal Mary Brosnan Cillian O’Donoghue Jamie Cordner Liam O'Brien (ASD Class Teacher) Noah Slattery and Johanna Whyte (Area Manager Fresh Today). Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Welcoming Minister for Special Needs & Inclusion Josepha Madigan to The Mon on Wednesday for the official launch of the Sensory Pod were Adam Shine Teacher Olga Ncube Principal Mary Brosnan AJ O’Shea Ceilim Brosnan and Micheal O’Brien. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

CHOIR: Mr Groves Fourth Class choir performed a rendition of Barr na Sráide for the Minister for Special Needs & Inclusion Josepha Madigan. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Minister Josepha Madigan was there to cut the ribbon and was warmly greeted by Principal Mary Brosnan, Johanna Whyte from Fresh Today, David McGinn from Murray’s Medical, school staff and pupils.

Other guests in attendance were David Clifford and Gavin White who brought the Sam Maguire with them while Mr Grove's Fourth Class choir performed a rendition of 'Barr na Sráide'.

"It was wonderful to welcome everyone to The Mon for the launch of our Sensory Pod in association with Fresh Today & Murray’s Medical," Principal Mary Brosnan told the Killarney Advertiser.

"The boys from Mr Liam O’Brien’s Arbutus Class and Ms Olga Ncube’s Butterfly Class were delighted to perform and present Minister Josepha Madigan with a framed copy their self-penned poem and a bouquet of daffodils from Micheál O’Shea's farm just around the corner from our school. We are a very special school with children from over 44 different nationalities and cultures with an amazing and dedicated staff to support them. Like every school we have a variety of activities, opportunities and experiences to offer the boys who come here. We were delighted to add those when we won the Sensory Pod!"

There was excitement back in November when they heard the lovely news, she added.

"The Sensory Pod arrived the following morning and since then has been such a fantastic resource for the school. In the short time we have had the pod we have seen many benefits. It is used throughout the school day from the minute the gate is open in the morning, supporting boys with anxiety around coming to school. It is used as a safe space for boys if they are upset or if they are overwhelmed in the classroom," she added.

"We are finding more and more that the boys are asking to go to the pod at different stages throughout the day. This is showing us that they are developing and recognising their own emotions. This independence is invaluable now and will be throughout their lives. For their part in improving the school experience for all our pupils we wish to thank Fresh Today and Murray’s Medical."