Hanafin opens newly Upgraded Sporting Facilities at Rockford Manor School, Blackrock
The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D., today (22 May, 2006) officially opened the recently completed upgrade of the sports facilities and grounds at Rockford Manor Secondary School, Blackrock, Co Dublin. The works consisted of a new entrance, upgraded outdoor sports facilities, resurfacing of tennis and basketball courts, new fencing around courts and landscaping.
Rockford Manor was established in 1958 and currently has over 350 girls enrolled in the school. The Department of Education and Science provided more than €350,000 from the 2005 Summer Works Scheme for this upgrade. “I am delighted to say that, in addition to the funding provided for this project, further funding has been sanctioned by my Department under the 2006 Summer Works Scheme to upgrade the science laboratory at Rockford Manor” said Minister Hanafin.
While stressing the importance of sport in education, Minister Hanafin said “sport teaches us teamwork, fair play and responsibility to others. We learn our strengths, weaknesses and how to challenge ourselves. We learn to be magnanimous in victory and not to be too disheartened when defeated. These are lessons which will stand to us in later years.”
Minister Hanafin praised the commitment and dedication of the staff saying “the school’s commitment to its pupils is evident in the care and attention that is provided for each pupil, with each student being enabled to grow in confidence and to develop a balanced sense of self-worth, caring for themselves, caring for others and for the world around them.”
Mary can be contacted at:
Office: Department of Education and Science,
Marlborough Street, Dublin 1Tel: (01) 878 8495
Fax: (01) 878 8300
Website: www.maryhanafin.ie
NEWS: Mary Hanafin TD
