An Irish medium pre-school facility in Fermanagh is celebrating a new outdoor resource area – a secret garden and play area. Naiscoil an Traonaigh which is a pre-school unit serving the larger Bunscoil an Traonaigh adjacent to them at Drumbroughas North, Lisnaskea, opened their £8,000 facility on Thursday.
The playgroup leader, Jolene Nig Uidhir, says the resource has came at a very good time for the 14 three to four year olds who attend.
“In addition to the garden we have a sheltered area where children can enjoy outdoor play and they are enjoying these extra benefits” she said.
“We are ecstatic about the opening. The children have been waiting for it for a long time.”
Funding for the new resource came from the Fermanagh Trust and from DARD as well as fundraising from parents through various schemes such as bag packing.
She explained that the new outdoor area has various activities built into it such as underground telephones where children speak into a hole in the fence and a voice is heard somewhere else.
“It’s their secret garden” said Jolene.
The ground has also enabled the playgroup begin an allotment.
They have been growing lots of carrots and lettuce and other vegetables.
Bunscoil an Traonaigh is the only Irish speaking school in Fermanagh and attracts pupils from across the county but principally from the Erne East area.
At the official opening on Thursday 2nd June 2011, Lauri McCusker; the Fermanagh Trust; officials from the Western Education and Library Board and DARD.
"Photograph Courtesy Raymond Humphreys Photography"
