First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA received a very warm welcome on arrival in St. Patrick's PS on Thursday. The children welcomed the First Minister in ten different languages and proudly bore the flag of their home nation.
Visiting St Patrick's Primary School in Dungannon, to officially open a new £600,000 Specialist Setting, the First Minister was treated to vibrant performance of traditional Irish music, song and an East Timorese celebration dance in the traditional tais. Supported by Malachi Cush, the choir sang a beautiful rendition of The Hills of Tyrone, the place that has now become their home.
Seamus McCreesh, Principal of St Patrick's Primary School said: "We are privileged to welcome the First Minister to celebrate this significant milestone in the school’s journey with the opening of our new Specialist Setting, designed to provide enhanced educational support for pupils with additional needs. The school has a long tradition of supporting children who experience barriers to learning and this new provision further enhances the school’s capacity for supporting our whole school community. We are grateful to everyone who has been involved in contributing to the realisation of the vision of our governors and staff in creating this wonderful facility.
"We are also very proud of how the children from a range of cultures have made our school the vibrant and special environment that it is. They work hard at their books but they also love to sing, dance, play football, play camogie and enjoy all the other aspects of school life at St Patrick's Primary. Our pupils truly make it the inclusive, diverse and happy school that it is."
