Celebrations in Delvin as St. Tola"s marks 40 years

A party was in full swing in Delvin all day on Saturday afternoon last, June 27, as everyone associated with the forty year history of St. Tola"s National School, Delvin gathered at the school grounds to mark its ruby birthday.Past and present pupils and staff were blessed with ideal weather conditions, as celebrations began with a sports day for children early on Saturday afternoon, followed by a gathering attended by over 200 parents and adults later in the evening.The sweltering Saturday heat made for a very successful fun and activity day in the school grounds, with children from the Delvin area participating in a range of sporting events on the grounds of the Hiskinstown school.As well as including GAA, soccer and athletics events for the children, the sports day also featured novelty events, like sack races, egg and spoon races, tug-o"-war and football for mothers; and by all accounts, one or two teachers were the targets of choice in a wet sponge-throwing competition.Fidelma Gaffney, principal of St. Tola"s NS, praised all those who had helped make the commemorative day such a success. Speaking to the crowd in attendance, she also paid tribute to Dan O"Dowd, the school"s first principal, who held the role for 36 years before retiring in 2005.Mr. O"Dowd also spoke, recalling some fond memories of his time at the Delvin school.The fun day was then followed by a picnic, with no end of fine refreshments and drinks available, and music and entertainment provided until the early hours of Sunday morning by local musicians.The evening of celebration was the spectacular result of many months of planning by a committee, tasked with bringing together all those who have had an association with St. Tola"s over the years.The committee also set the publication of a commemorative magazine as one of their main objectives for the anniversary celebrations, and the booklet will be officially launched at the school on Saturday next between 10am and 12 noon.St. Tola"s National School was opened in the summer of 1969, to satisfy demands for a new school to the west of Delvin village, a few years after the national school at Killough closed its doors.