A remembrance garden in honour of sister and brother Thelma and Michael Dennany was officially opened as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of St Cremin’s National School in Multyfarnham.
A large crowd of past pupils and staff joined the current school community for the celebrations, which were held last Friday.
In addition to the official opening of the sensory garden, which was attended by Thelma and Michael’s father and other relatives, Fr Conor Magee celebrated Mass on the school’s astroturf pitch.
St Cremin’s National School opened its doors in September 1973 when Ballinafid, Leney and Multyfarnham national schools were amalgamated.
The original school building consisted of five classrooms; a sixth classroom and a new staffroom were added in the 1990s.
With student numbers on the rise, a significant extension, which included a seventh classroom and three special education rooms, was constructed in 2019, while two years later an eighth classroom was added to meet the needs of the school’s 210 students.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, school principal Karl Dermody said that Friday’s event was an opportunity “to give thanks to those who have been part St Cremin’s NS journey and look forward to the future education of the children of the parish”. Past pupils and former staff members were among those present.
Nicholas and Brigid McCabe visit the sensory garden dedicated to the memory of Thelma and Mikey Dennehy in St Cremin's NS on Friday.
Max and Emma Harvey with Marian Gillespie shelter from the sun shower at the outdoor mass in St Cremin's School on Friday.
Barbara Orme and former principal teacher Nial Brennan at St Cremin's NS on Friday.
Eamon Orme, Edward Cahill, and Caithriona Devine on Friday in St Cremin's NS, Multyfarnham.
Ann Downs returns to St Cremin's, where she dedicated her professional lifetime of teaching on Friday, with Bernie Mulligan and Mary Carolan, to mark the 50 years of education and the opening of the sensory garden.
Fr Conor McGee and Karl Dermody preparing for the opening of the sensory garden in memory of Thelma and Mikey Dennehy on Friday.
Fr Conor McGee, Caitlyn Glass, Michael Dennehy, Eddie Glass and school principal Karl Dermody, at the cutting of the ribbon to open the sensory garden dedicated to the memory of Thelma and Mikey Dennehy at St Cremin's NS, Multyfarnham, on Friday.
This image of Mikey and Thelma Dennehy is encapsulated in a sculpture in the sensory gardens dedicated to their memory at St Cremin's NS, Multyfarnham, opened by their father on Friday, one year since they died.
“Heartbroken is the only way of describing it,“ is what Mary Dennehy, grandmother of deceased children, Thelma and Mikey, said on Friday, supported by her daughter and aunt of the children, Mary Dennehy, after the opening of the sensory garden dedicatied to the children.
Aisling Mulhern and Kasey Gannon in the outdoor classroom of St Cremin’s NS, Multyfarnham on Friday.
Ella Graham, Philippa Sweeney, Aioffe Leavey, Anna Murray, Anna Beth Fallon, fifth class teacher Ms Bradley, and RIleyCoyle in St Cremin’s NS on Friday.
Fr Conor McGee, parish priest and celebrant of the marking of 50 years of education in St Cremin’s School, with Joe Mulvaney.
At St Cremin’s NS, Multyfarnham for the marking of the opening of the sensory garden dedicated to Thelma and Mikey Dennehy, were Eddie Glass, Ciaran McKenna, Caitlin Glass, and Donna and Tara Nugget Flynn.
Kevin, Ann and their son Gerrard Boyhan at St Cremin’s NS on Friday.
Pupils enjoy the atmosphere of the outdoor Mass to celebrate 50 years of education in St Cremin's NS, Multyfarnham, on Friday.
Karl Dermody, principal of St Cremin's, and Fr Conor McGee at the outdoor Mass and gathering of the community to mark 50 years of education and the opening of the sensory garden in memory for Thelma and Mikey Dennehy.
