Greendale Community School
Encyclopedia
Greendale is a Community School, a form of State-sponsored secondary school
, in the Northside suburb of Kilbarrack
, Dublin, Ireland
, located near the boundary with Raheny
.
suburban rail station and Greendale Shopping Centre, and its grounds include a basketball court once used by Killester Basketball club.
According to the Minster for Education, the trustees of Greendale made a decision in March 2004 to close the school to new entrants in September 2004, and to close altogether in June 2007. The property will then revert to the Department of Education. A major reunion of past pupils and teachers, covered by the press and national TV, was held in mid-February 2007.
Former teachers at the school include Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle
, and Catherine Dunne
, and former Dublin Football midfielder Brian Mullins
The principal of the school from opening to pending closure is Anton Carroll.
There has been some controversy about the closure, for reasons including the pending arrival of more than 2,500 homes within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Kilbarrack (many in Balgriffin
and Baldoyle
), the school's widely-recognised work in education in a challenging environment, and the non-closure of what some see as less-progressive, non co-educational schools nearby.
As of April 2007, it has been announced that the school will continue to be used for educational purposes.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, in the Northside suburb of Kilbarrack
Kilbarrack
Kilbarrack is a residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, running inwards from the coast, about from the city's centre. Modern-day Kilbarrack is within the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council, with part of its old lands now in Donaghmede, and part in Bayside under Fingal County Council...
, Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, located near the boundary with Raheny
Raheny
Raheny is a northern suburb of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. It is an old area, centred around an old village, and is referenced back to 570 AD but after years of light settlement, with a main village and a coastal hamlet, grew rapidly in the 20th century, and is now a mid-density...
.
Construction
Greendale was built in the mid-1970s, opening in 1975, with capacity for not less than 800 pupils. The school quickly exceeded its numbers, and extension work in the early 1980s allowed for up to 900 students. By 1996, however, core pupil numbers were down to 449, then 215 at the start of the 2003-2004 school year, and 160 in 2006. In addition to the day pupils, Greendale has long offered a range of night courses and adult education initiatives, facilitating up to 1,400 students at a time.Location
Greendale is situated on c. 4.5 acres (18,210.9 m²) of land, near Kilbarrack DARTDublin Area Rapid Transit
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit is part of the suburban railway network in Ireland, running mainly along the coastline of Dublin Bay on the Trans-Dublin route, from Greystones in County Wicklow, through Dublin to Howth and Malahide in County Dublin.Trains are powered via a 1500V DC overhead catenary...
suburban rail station and Greendale Shopping Centre, and its grounds include a basketball court once used by Killester Basketball club.
According to the Minster for Education, the trustees of Greendale made a decision in March 2004 to close the school to new entrants in September 2004, and to close altogether in June 2007. The property will then revert to the Department of Education. A major reunion of past pupils and teachers, covered by the press and national TV, was held in mid-February 2007.
Former teachers at the school include Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle
Roddy Doyle
Roddy Doyle is an Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter. Several of his books have been made into successful films, beginning with The Commitments in 1991. He won the Booker Prize in 1993....
, and Catherine Dunne
Catherine Dunne
Catherine Dunne is an Irish author. She was born in Dublin and studied English and Spanish at Trinity College, Dublin, before becoming a teacher....
, and former Dublin Football midfielder Brian Mullins
Brian Mullins
Brian Mullins is a retired Gaelic football manager and former player. He played football with his local club St. Vincent's and was a member of the Dublin senior inter-county team from 1974 until 1985. Mullins later served as manager of both Dublin and Derry...
The principal of the school from opening to pending closure is Anton Carroll.
There has been some controversy about the closure, for reasons including the pending arrival of more than 2,500 homes within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Kilbarrack (many in Balgriffin
Balgriffin
Balgriffin is a former rural, now largely residential, part of County Dublin, Ireland.-Location:Balgriffin is situated approximately from Dublin city centre...
and Baldoyle
Baldoyle
Baldoyle is a small coastal area on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the part of the historic County Dublin now administered as Fingal.-Location and Access:...
), the school's widely-recognised work in education in a challenging environment, and the non-closure of what some see as less-progressive, non co-educational schools nearby.
As of April 2007, it has been announced that the school will continue to be used for educational purposes.