Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead Mc Guinness officially cut the ribbon on the school play area at Carlanstown National School on Thursday (9th May), Europe Day.
She said great credit was due to all involved in making it happen.
“The garden/play area will be a source of joy, exploration and much learning for pupils, for many years to come.
“All who are associated with it deserve credit, including Paddy Colgan for the construction of the sandboxes, outdoor kitchen and play facilities.”
“The community in Carlanstown is part of the school community working together and it is this co-operation that makes the whole community stronger, she said.
“I would like to thank Principal, Sarah Curran and teacher, Catherine Yore for the invitation to visit and making this wonderful day happen.
“Today is Europe day and we remember those with the vision to establish the original coal and steel community which became the EU as we know it today.
“The pupils here in Carlanstown are working on the Blue Star programme and have learned a lot about European culture and the European institutions.”
The programme is aimed at fostering, through classroom projects and activities, better knowledge and understanding amongst pupils about the European Union.
“Important questions put to me ranged from topics such as Brexit to how I got involved in politics.
“It was an honour to meet such wonderful pupils and engage with them on a vision for the future, which is what the founders of the EU did as a response to the devastation wrath by years of conflict and war.
“Sometimes we can forget the EU is essentially a peace project,” she said.