On September 1st 1979 Scoil Mhuire na nGrast  opened its doors for the first time as a central school for the parish of Clontead. It replaced three small schools at Ballingarry, Belgooly and Ballymartle.The site was purchased from  the late Jim and Masie Finn at a very reasonable price for land at that  time. The parish community owe them a debt of gratitude for their generosity. The foresight of the late Fr. Gus O Regan P.P.  must also be acknowledged. He alone acquired the site of ample space for playgrounds and future extensions.He negotiated with the Department of Education to secure the necessary finance and engaged with professionals to draw up plans and appoint a  contractor to build the school. The main contractor was Kilmoney Construction Carrigaline. They built the original school with six classrooms and a recreation hall. Work began in 1978 and was completed in the summer of 1979. The late Fr. Kevin Lanigan negotiated successfully with the Department of Education to sort out some major school transport difficulties before the school opened.In August of 1979 Eamon Kelly was appointed as Principal and Lilly Cronin as Vice Principal. The school opened with four teachers for the first week. The teachers were Eamon Kelly, Lilly Cronin, Kathleen Buckley R.I.P and Patricia O Rourke. One week later the school had its full compliment of teachers with the appointment of Gerardine O Connor and Mervyn Murray.

 

Over the years with the increase in the school going population many extensions were necessary.  The first extension was completed in 1986. This project provided the school with two classrooms, an office, a staffroom and a resource room. This was followed by the building of two more classrooms in 2006.  Another building project was undertaken in 2010 which saw the addition of two more classrooms and a resource room. 2016 will bring another extension to our school ensuring that our students are provided with the best possible facilities. The school community has a strong historical commitment to maintaining the fabric of the physical learning and working environment.

 

Thanks to successive Boards of Management for all their work.