Building Extension and Sports Hall Campaign

Between 1994 and 2006, we made three applications for a Sports Hall. All were refused! In 2007 we submitted our fourth one, applying for extra classrooms to replace the prefabs and to have the administration area refurbished, in addition to a Sports Hall.

In the run up to the General Election of May 2007, the school launched a major campaign to support our application. There were 5 aspects to our campaign

Email Day

Exactly one year after the Forum, we had an 'Email Day' where every student in the school was given the opportunity to go to the Computer Room and email all the TDs. Almost 400 emails were received by each of the 5 TDs expressing the frustration and disillusionment felt by staff and students at the total lack of progress with our application.

As a result, Mrs Colhoun, Mrs Mulligan and Mrs Lavery were invited by Catherine Byrne TD to a meeting inthe Dáil with the 5 TDs for our area. At this meeting, the TDs committed to lobby the Minister as a group on our behalf and to set up a meeting with him to make our case.

We await the outcome

Delegation meets the Minister

On Monday 21st May 07, a delegation from the school ( a parent, a student, a teacher and the principal) met Minister Hanafin for half an hour and and outlined our case before presenting her with almost 2500 letters collected over the last two months.

Minister Hanafin listened carefully to all that was said and afterwards, Mrs Colhoun described the meeting as "very positive and encouraging".

2GC chose the Building and Sports Hall Campaign as their Junior Cert CSPE project. On Thursday 19th April, Trevor Sargent, leader of the Green Party, and Tony McDermott, the local Greens candidate, asked to visit the school, meet the girls and view the facilities for themselves. The girls questioned both in depth on their position and very clearly outlined our needs as they gave them a guided tour of the prefabs, the hall and the changing rooms and reminded them of their message to all the candidates in the forthcoming election: 'No Building, No Hall, No vote for the Dáil!'

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Media Attention

The 2GC students have become quite the little radio stars! On Wednesday morning they featured on the 8.30 news on TodayFM Breakfast show in an interview with Emily Tully. The following morning, they were again on the airwaves, this time with Derek O'Halloran on Newstalk 106 where they warned the government that they will not give up.

Left: Emily Tully TodayFM interviews the students

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Cllr Catherine Byrne speaks

With 9 candidates representing all the major parties, a very animated debate resulted in pledges from the parties, (except PDs Frank McNamara) that if elected, they will prioitise our application. We requested their pledges in writing Frank McNamara committed personally to raise funds to complete the project while Catherine Byrne pledged to speak to Enda Kenny immediately to seek the FG commitment. Mary Upton confirmed her unequivocal statement of 26th April to build the facilities. Click here to see their written pledges .

Candidates warmly congratulated the school on one of the best lobbying campaigns they had ever encountered. Eric Byrne admitted he dreaded opening his emails every day and all the candidates agreed that they could not canvass any street in the area without encountering the issue.

Mary Upton addresses the Forum

Candidates mingle before the Forum

In attendance were:

Sean Ardagh TD
Michael Mulcahy TD
Aengus O'Snodaigh TD
Mary Upton TD
Cllr Catherine Byrne
Cllr Eric Byrne
Cllr Anne Marie Martin
Cllr Tony McDermott
Frank McNamara

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