A new space to learn — indoors and out
Dunmore school celebrates opening of new learning space
A NEW modular autism classroom was officially opened at Dunmore Community School as part of the Le Chéile programme.
The event held on Friday, May 8, marked an important milestone for the school community, celebrating both current and future students along with honouring the programme’s first Leaving Certificate students.
The modular unit at the back of the school building features a spacious autism classroom along with a sensory room equipped with a bubble wall, bean bags, soft lighting, and an aroma machine.
The new classroom is located beside the sensory garden that opened in November 2024, providing a quick access to the garden for various activities.
It is a great addition to the school facilities, that will help cater for the educational needs of 12 students from September.
A polytunnel has also been set up near the classroom for students to take part in gardening activities.
“It’s great to have the new classroom and the polytunnel. It lets us have breaks from classes when we are tired,” said Conor Trench, one of the students in the Le Chéile programme.
School Principal Declan Quinn was delighted to finally have the classroom up and running.
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DEPUTY Principal Michelle Hession (on secondment), former Deputy Principal Aoife Gilmore, Amy Keane, current Deputy Principal Mary Scarry, Joseph Canavan, Principal Declan Quinn and ASD Coordinator Niamh McManus. RAY RYANImage 2 of 7
SNAs at Dunmore Community School Ciara O’Donnell, Berni Connolly, Sarah Varley, John Kelly Siobhan O’Neill, Martina Beattie and Sandra Waldron. RAY RYANImage 3 of 7
AT the opening were Conor Trench, teacher Elaine McGinty, Isabelle Fleming, Aaron Slattery, Joseph Canavan, Amy Keane, teacher Anne Mitchell, ASD Coordinator Niamh McManus and Pàdraig McGovern. RAY RYANImage 4 of 7
IN the garden were SNA Sarah Varley, students Joseph Canavan and Amy Keane, and SNA Siobhan O’Neill. RAY RYANImage 5 of 7
INSIDE the new classroom were Joseph Canavan, right, Conor Trench, mid left, Pàdraig McGovern and Amy Keane. RAY RYANImage 6 of 7
DUNMORE student Isabelle Fleming at her desk in the new classroom. RAY RYANImage 7 of 7
THE polytunnel is a big hit with students. Helping tend to the plants were Pádraig McGovern, Conor Trench, teacher Elaine McGinty and Isabelle Fleming. Photos: Ray Ryan RAY RYAN“We had been planning this classroom for years and it took over two years to finally have it on the ground,” said Mr Quinn.
“We are also working on having a new building which would be an extension to the existing one. That project is currently in the design stage and will have a total of eight classrooms, including two ASD classrooms and six mainstream classrooms,” he added.
Further recognising the efforts of the staff at school, he said: “We are fortunate to have excellent staff who go above and beyond to care for students.”
Principal Quinn believes that facilities like the modular unit are important to include all students and provide them with an opportunity to attend a mainstream school.
“We want this to be a real-life experience for our students,” said Niamh McManus, ASD Co-ordinator at Dunmore Community School.
Explaining the importance of Le Chéile which means together in Irish, she said that the programme is a space that “supports autistic students within school by providing an inclusive and nurturing educational environment tailored to individual needs”.
She thanked everyone who helped bring the new modular classroom and sensory space to life, with a special acknowledgement to Murphy’s Garden Centre, Tuam and Hygeia, Oranmore who donated plants to the polytunnel project.
Also present at the openiung were Dunmore Cllr Ollie Turner, Autistic Advocate and Autism Support specialist Amanda McGuinness, former ASD co-ordinator at Dunmore Community School Aoife Gilmore, Deputy Principal Mary Scarry and other staff members.