Athy childcare facility celebrates 30 years at graduation

The Holland family of Model Farm have long since gone to their eternal rest. Nellie and Cyprian being the last of their name to inhabit the iconic 175-year-old building on the Dublin Road; and for all those years the swifts have returned, summer after summer to build their nests and fledge the next generation of that magnificent avian creature to grace the azure skies on clear evenings through to the early autumn. 

But it was the chat and laughter of future generations of architects, farmers, teachers, doctors and sports stars that filled the air in the courtyard of Model Farm last week when the latest crop of students graduated from Tir na nOg preschool. 

We were there as invited guests for the graduation of our grandson Liam Walsh and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the preschool by Kathleen Cash and her husband Jim in 1996.

Resplendent in their green mortar boards and gowns, 47 children received their certificates of completion to the delight of the assembled families. ''I am a big boy now Nana,'' said a delighted Liam to his grandmother as he jumped into her arms having received his parchment. 

Guest speakers were Debbie Mullen from Kildare County Childcare Committee and local businessman Adrian Conlon. 

Tir na nOg founder Kathleen Cash spoke about the dream she had of establishing a childcare facility and playschool. 

She was determined to ensure that every child would be cared for with the same love, respect and attention we would want for our own children. Thirty years later, the same values and principles serve to guide and ensure that every child entering the school feels safe, valued and free to be themselves. 

Thankfully for the huge crowd of parents, grandparents and past pupils who turned out to celebrate with Kathleen, Jim, Lorraine and the staff of the school, the evening stayed fine and dry. The graduates were treated to copious amounts of ice cream and the catering was splendid. 

It was a truly wonderful celebration of a dream achieved by hard work and commitment.