Part of the St Michael’s College sports complex, which is to be developed, as seen from the air Picture: Bill McBurnie
St Michael’s College in Enniskillen is one of four schools across the North included in a £10 million funding package announced by Education Minister Peter Weir this afternoon.
St Michael’s is due to receive £1.07 million as part of the package, which will go towards its new state-of-the-art sports facilities, which are currently in development. These will include a new floodlit 4G pitch, a shale athletics area, and changing pavilion.
Speaking to the Hearld in the autumn, when tenders were opened for the development, school principal Mark Henry said the aim of the project was to develop the school’s already excellent sports facilities, and to develop its cross-country and athletics as it currently does not have a running rack.
“Another element is by having the 4G pitch we won’t have any disruptions to training, particularly with Gaelic football,” said Mr Henry. “We would find out training schedules being disrupted due to weather in the winter. This facility will allow the boys to train all year without disruption.”
Benefit to the whole community
Mr Henry added the facilities would be used by the pupils during school hours, but would be open to the public out of school hours.
“It will be fully flood-lit, and will be of benefit to the whole community,” he said, explaining the new facilities would be sited on one of the school’s current GAA pitches. “We would be keen for other sports clubs and individuals to use it.”
The three other schools to benefit from the funding package announced today Wednesday, January 25, are St Malachy’s College, Belfast, Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry, and Slemish Integrated College, Ballymena
Minister Weir said: “Improving the schools estate is a priority for me and the School Enhancement Programme is an excellent way of delivering capital work projects which have an immediate positive impact on the schools, staff and pupils.”
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