These three aerial photographs make a powerful statement and are graphic in showing the change to the land around Our Lady's Grove Primary and Secondary Schools. Taken in 2009, 2016 and 2017, the loss of green space is undeniable.
Aerial photography of Our Lady's Grove Schools - May 2009
Aerial photography of Our Lady's Grove Schools - June 2016
Aerial photography of Our Lady's Grove Schools - June 2017
Councillor Barry Saul (Fine Gael) showed these photographs of Our Lady's Grove at the DLR County Council Meeting on 12th June when he said: “The pictures paint many, many thousands of words. The grass areas will effectively be gone from Our Lady’s Grove unless we take action. I’m not afraid to support rezoning and down-zonings of land to protect the very limited areas of grass left in these schools.”
Barbara Scully, freelance journalist and broadcaster writes: "The Sisters of Jesus and Mary have recently sold 5 acres of land formerly used by Our Lady’s Grove school in Goatstown for a reported €13million. In recent weeks, we have learned that the Christian Brothers have done a deal with a developer to sell off most of the playing pitches belonging to Clonkeen School in Deansgrange for a reported €18 million.
In both cases, these non fee paying schools will be left without a vital amenity. Outdoor space and playing fields should not be a luxury item for any school, (although of course not every school has access to same) particularly today with rising obesity and mental health issues in our young people. The collateral damage in these actions by the religious orders is our children, once again, whose general wellbeing, mental and physical health are being sacrificed at the altar of greed by congregations of the Catholic Church.
It is time that we, the people, demand that our Minister for Education puts a stop to this fire sale of our schools valuable, precious assets. Ruairi Quinn was right, back in 2009 when he said that this is not just an issue for the Department of Education but one for all of society. This is an issue that demands a national conversation. We owe it not only to our children but to our grandchildren and great grandchildren to protect this vital part of our schools’ infrastructure. As long as schools exist, their playing fields should be protected, from developers, from greedy religious orders and from spineless ministers. A good start would be to stop the sale of Clonkeen’s grounds before passing legislation that would protect all schools from this asset stripping."
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Continue to engage with all DLR Councillors, T.D.'s and the Minister for Education on this urgent issue for our school and indeed all schools in DLR and beyond.
Barbara Scully, freelance journalist and broadcaster writes: "The Sisters of Jesus and Mary have recently sold 5 acres of land formerly used by Our Lady’s Grove school in Goatstown for a reported €13million. In recent weeks, we have learned that the Christian Brothers have done a deal with a developer to sell off most of the playing pitches belonging to Clonkeen School in Deansgrange for a reported €18 million.
In both cases, these non fee paying schools will be left without a vital amenity. Outdoor space and playing fields should not be a luxury item for any school, (although of course not every school has access to same) particularly today with rising obesity and mental health issues in our young people. The collateral damage in these actions by the religious orders is our children, once again, whose general wellbeing, mental and physical health are being sacrificed at the altar of greed by congregations of the Catholic Church.
It is time that we, the people, demand that our Minister for Education puts a stop to this fire sale of our schools valuable, precious assets. Ruairi Quinn was right, back in 2009 when he said that this is not just an issue for the Department of Education but one for all of society. This is an issue that demands a national conversation. We owe it not only to our children but to our grandchildren and great grandchildren to protect this vital part of our schools’ infrastructure. As long as schools exist, their playing fields should be protected, from developers, from greedy religious orders and from spineless ministers. A good start would be to stop the sale of Clonkeen’s grounds before passing legislation that would protect all schools from this asset stripping."
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Join the fight! We need to put a stop to the sale of land around our schools!
Sign our Petition, Like our Facebook Page, Follow us on TwitterContinue to engage with all DLR Councillors, T.D.'s and the Minister for Education on this urgent issue for our school and indeed all schools in DLR and beyond.
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