A town primary school - which has a deep connection to Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty - has a whole new look which was officially opened today (Friday) by the Minister for Education.

A GIFT: Minister for Education Norma Foley pictured today (Friday) at the official opening of the newly constructed wing to the Presentation Monastery Primary School in Killarney. Making a special presentation to the Minister were Mark O'Leary (left) and Mark Paul with Colm Ó Suilleabháin (School Principal). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

PRESENTATION: Minister for Education Norma Foley pictured today (Friday) at the official opening of the newly constructed wing to the Presentation Monastery Primary School in Killarney which will house two special needs classrooms a multi-sensory room and a general-purpose hall. Making a special presentation to Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne were Luke O'Shea Éanna O'Donoghue with Colm Ó Suilleabháin (School Principal). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

A JOB WELL DONE: After 13 years Colm Ó Suilleabháin principal of Presentation Monastery Primary School Killarney stands at the school entrance. Colm has been appointed principal of St Oliver's Primary School Ballycasheen and begins his tenure shortly. One of his last official functions was with Minister for Education Norma Foley who officially opened the newly constructed wing which will house two special needs classrooms a multi-sensory room and a general-purpose hall. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Rollbook that includes Mons. Hugh O'Flaherty's name.

TAKING A LEAP: Minister for Education Norma Foley today (Friday) officially opened the newly constructed wing to the Presentation Monastery Primary School in Killarney which will house two special needs classrooms a multi-sensory room and a general-purpose hall. Included is: Éanna O'Donoghue Adnan Hossain Callum O'Connor Robert Murphy Mark O'Leary Paddy Collins Paul Mark. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

DEDICATION: Minister for Education Norma Foley today (Friday) at the opening of a special outdoor classroom 'Dotts Garden' dedicated to the memory of Dorothy (Dott) Hennggler the 2011 Washington DC Rose who died at the family home in Baltimore from a brain tumour. The garden was officially opened by Anne O'Shea (aunt of the late Dorothy) and Àine McMahon (cousin of the late Dorothy and BOM member). Included was: Cathaoirleach Killarney Municipal District Cllr Marie Moloney Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne Ger Murphy (Chairman Board of Management) school principal Colm Ó Suilleabháin Dara O'Shea Áine McMahon Siobhan O'Shea Luke O'Shea. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

AND IT'S OPEN: Minister for Education Norma Foley pictured today (Friday) at the official opening of the newly constructed wing to the Presentation Monastery Primary School in Killarney. From left: Ger Murphy (Chairman) Board of Management Fr Jim Linane CC Bishop Ray Browne and Colm Ó Suilleabháin (School Principal). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

TIME OUT: Cormac Dineen grand-nephew of the late Mons. Hugh O'Flaherty taking some time out to have a chat with Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Norma Foley TD officially opened the newly constructed wing to the Presentation Monastery Primary School on New Road which will house two special needs classrooms, a multi-sensory room and a general-purpose hall.

The project, which was funded by Department of Education along with money raised by the school as part of their ‘THE MON-ster Fundraiser’, was just one of three officially opened new additions to the school along with a special dedication of the school’s hall in honour of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, a past pupil of the school from 1909-1914.

Also, The Most Rev. Ray Browne, Bishop of Kerry, officially opened a three-classroom extension at the school's present site which was opened in 1958 having moved from its College Street location which was opened in 1838 by the Presentation Brothers.

Former Supreme Court Judge Hugh O'Flaherty and Mrs Pearl Dineen the nephew and niece of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty officiated over the dedicating of the school’s new hall to past pupil, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, in recognition of his heroic deeds during WWII.

O’Flaherty, who also taught at the school later, became better known for the role he played in World War II while at the Vatican leading over 6,500 prisoners of war, partisans and Jews to freedom to earn him the title of the 'Vatican Pimpernel', leading to the 1983 film ‘The Scarlet and the Black' with Gregory Peck portraying the role of O’Flaherty.

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

A special outdoor classroom 'Dotts Garden', dedicated to the memory of Dorothy (Dott) Hennggler the 2011 Washington DC Rose who died at the family home in Baltimore from a brain tumour, was officially opened by Anne O'Shea (aunt of the late Dorothy), and Àine McMahon (cousin of the late Dorothy and BOM member). The outdoor classroom was beautifully decorated over the summer by artist Katríona Lynch.

Due to COVID restrictions, the main event took place outdoors with staff joined by a small group of pupils selected from each of the classes representing the student body along with members of the school’s Board of Management.

“Your achievements have been remarkable over the last number of months," Minister of Education, Norma Foley, said today at the official opening.

"It is my wish going forward that the next year in education will be less complicated, less trying and less difficult one. I think school staff are deserving of that. We can put the COVID atmosphere behind us and we are moving positively along. We hope that in a few months we will talk about living in a post-COVID time. The story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty speaks of the calibre of students produced here, but it also speaks of the courage and bravery and vision that Kerry people can have in the most difficult and trying of times.”

School principal Colm Ó Suilleabháin, who is shortly moving on to St Oliver's NS in Ballycasheen, was delighted to be in attendance to see the building come to fruition.

“It’s a fantastic culmination of hard work by the staff and the Board of Management, and we are delighted to see the school is fully equipped and resourced for the next generation of pupils from Killarney and beyond,” he said.