Students at Curragh Community School stage walk-out over conditions

A MASS of students from Curragh Community School (CSS) took part in the student-led protest addressing poor school conditions on a stormy day at the Curragh Camp last week.

Students organised outside the school on Tuesday afternoon 27 January, before staging the walk to the nearby church – joined by teachers and parents

Two students, Libby Christie and Sophie Evans took the plunge to organise the protest after having their education incredibly impacted by the unfit condition of their school.

Third year student, Sophie, originally came up with the idea to stage a protest to stand up for their education, and to show the impact that the dilapidated school has had on CCS students.

That’s when sixth year student, Libby, jumped on board to help rally the troops.

Libby explained: “Sophie told me that she wanted to do a walkout to show the students' opposition towards the place that we basically live in five days a week. And I was 100% on board with that.”

The protest took place just a day before the Department of Education’s announcement, which said that the school would be made a priority for the large-scale development of a new school building the 2026/7 period.

Libby detailed the dire conditions of the school to the Kildare Nationalist. From mouldy ceilings to leaky roofs to more serious problems like water contamination and leaking ceilings near electrical outlets:

“There’s mouldy ceilings, leaks in the roofs, and very cold classrooms. It's not the radiators that are the problem, it's the insulation in the school.” 

Three classrooms in the school were closed due to health and safety concerns late last year and remain closed to classes.

“There's three condemned classes, but one of them has been kind of fixed up a bit where students can now walk through it to go to the art room, but other than that, it is still completely unsafe for us to learn in,” said Libby.

“One of the rooms, room 23, had mushrooms growing out of the skirting board. And there is a big black spot of black mould on the ceiling right in the centre of the class.

“One of the other rooms, room 13, had a massive leak in the roof where it would be dripping down on top of students during class. It actually dripped on top of me and my friend during our Irish class,” she said.

“The carpet was completely dry rotted, it has since been replaced, but it was horrible.” Due to the classroom closures, senior students have had to regularly travel to Kildare town to use facilities at the PLC centre, Kildare Further Education and Training Centre.

Sophie explained that while the students are grateful for the use of facilities at the centre, it is not an ideal situation.

“It’s great that we’ve got the classrooms, but we shouldn't even be in that situation where we have to travel to two different places,” she said.

The students also explained an instance in early January where the school had to close for a week due to a sewage block which flooded out of the pipes and onto the floors.

“That was a huge health and safety thing, and we got the week off school for that,” said Libby.

She continued: “Only at the start of last week, we were all sent home early on Monday because the water was contaminated and it was completely unsafe to even put your hands into. The army had to shut us down.” 

All students at the school have been impacted by the conditions of the school. 

“All of the students are completely conscious during class about what's going on around them. In room seven, everything is just crumbling around you,” said Libby.

Some teachers and parents supported the student’s protest, with one parent speaking on her daughter’s experience: “My daughter has a physical disability and is in her exam year. It’s really not good enough."

She continued: “They (Department of Education) need to do something to help. The school was meant to be built years ago.” 

The walk-out protest went as planned, but after the demonstration was over, organisers Sophie and Libby hoped that their voices reach far beyond the Curragh Camp:

“We just want to raise the awareness to show that it's not just the teachers or the management that's complaining, it's the kids,” said Libby.

“We want a move on. We were promised this back in December of 2018. It's 2026, this is eight years later, and there's no move to improve our situation at all. No sign of building or anything.

“My older siblings, they all went to the school, and there was issues, but the rapid decline in the last three years is ridiculous.” 

One day later on Wednesday, 28 January, Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton announced the publication of the National Development Plan Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth sectors, outlining €7.55 billion in capital funding for schools and youth facilities nationwide between 2026 and 2030. CCS was one of 12 Kildare schools included on a prioritised development list for 2026/2027.

CCC Principal, Nessa Doyle, was “delighted and relieved” with the news.

She said: “I want to thank all members of our school community for their recent efforts to make known the unacceptable conditions of our current school building. Together we have demonstrated the lived ethos of our school.”

“We have a journey to go yet, but today's announcement is really good news. I expect the tender process will now result in the appointment of a contractor and commencement of the build.

“Once again thank you to everyone, staff, parents, members of the board of management for your forbearance and dedication to our new school. But especially I want to thank the students of Curragh Community College who have also been proud members of our school community despite our buildings deficits. Our students deserve the very best and this announcement promises them just that.”