Geodome is central to school's sensory garden

BY JACKIE KEOGH  

THE boys at St Patrick’s NS in Skibbereen are growing pineapples, rice and tea as part of an ambitious garden plan.

 A €30,000 project will be completed within the next two years and feature a number of exciting elements, including a 6m geodome at its centre.

 ‘The project began as a plan to build a few raised beds in an unused area behind the school,’ according to the principal Alan Foley, ‘but has grown into a massive garden project.’ 

The 222 pupils at the school – including 17 children with autism – are thrilled to be still at the development stage and they took great delight in explaining exactly what’s going on to Niall Morrison of RTÉ’S Nationwide. 

The TV presenter and camera crew visited the school on Tuesday to film a segment for a special harvest edition of the programme, which will go out in September. Teacher Brian Granaghan, who had previously been involved in the development of a sensory garden in a school in Dublin, was also on hand to give them a tour of the stunning new geodome, which was built on-site over a four-day period by local man Tim Farley. 

The school’s parents’ association has been incredibly supportive of the entire project, having already raised a total of €10,000 through various events in the community.