The controversial sale of a school in Ardcath has moved a step closer with sources suggesting a deal to sell Clonalvy NS to True Nature Sudbury School a Swords based company are almost completed.
The sale price is believed to over €300,000 and the vendor is the Bishop Of Meath Thomas Deenihan.
Local Independent councillor Joe Bonner is outraged at the outcome, he told Meath Live, ‘This is more than a school it represents the hub of the community and this really is a death knell for the village.
‘I have voiced the locals concerns over this but it appears that they have fallen on deaf ears.’
The controversial aspect of the sale surrounds long and fierce resistance by many locals to the move.
Cllr. Joe Bonner
Clonalvy NS school closed three years ago after a number of parents withdrew their children from it in protest at what they considered was sub standard teaching.
This resulted in teachers reporting for work daily with few if any pupils to teach and sources have told Meath Live that other parents were advised not to enrol their children in Clonalvy.
When the impasse could not be resolved the department of Education took the decision to permanently close it.
Now despite fierce local opposition it appears to have been sold.
One source told Meath Live, ‘Some parents thought their kids were Einstein and were not happy with the education they were receiving while others had a different opinion but ultimately it boiled down to a dispute between those parents and the principal which got out of hand.
‘Locals feel badly let down by certain TD’s from the government parties and especially by Minister Norma Foley who didn’t engage with them in any meaningful way.
‘The end result may have suited some people but not the majority of those who had an interest in what was going on.
The auctioneers, Mullingar firm, James L Murtagh replied to a request for comment.
However the school did place the notice below on it’s Facebook page last night and a spokeswoman told us,’True Nature at Clonalvy School will provide a number of services for children and their families in the community and surrounding areas.
