By Julie McLaughlin
A local school has officially opened its new outdoor play area.
St Joseph’s Primary School, Carnacaville, held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday for its new playground area for its students, with student Daniel McCombe getting to do the honours.
The event was attended by St Joseph’s pupils, parents, staff, members of the Board of Governors and local parish priest Fr Jim Crudden.
Construction on the playground project started in September 2025 and finished in February of this year. The children at St Joseph’s have been able to use and enjoy the play area since the beginning of March. It is situated to the rear of the school’s modular classrooms.
“The equipment consists of a jungle-style two tower climbing frame with slide, ladders, climbing nets, ropes, crawling tunnels and a fireman’s pole, a combination swing set with special support seats and basket seats, sunken trampolines, spinners and climbing frame with monkey bars. Also included is a hard playing surface and covered sand pit,” St Joseph’s principal Christopher McCann said.
Speaking during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr McCann highlighted the importance of the playground for the school’s pupils.
“Today marks an important milestone for our school. This facility has been designed first and foremost to support the occupational therapy needs of the pupils in our Rainbow Room, who inspire us every day with their resilience, determination, and joy. At the same time, it is something that will bring benefit to every child in our school community for many years to come,” Mr McCann said.
“This facility stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a school community works together with a shared purpose.”
The Rainbow Room is a classroom at St Joseph’s that currently has six pupils and provides “Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools”.
“This classroom was established in September 2023 in response to the increasing demand for places for children with severe learning difficulties,” Mr McCann said. “The children receive specialised teaching and support to meet their very complex learning needs while also being part of a mainstream school. Our pupils integrate at every level of school life.”
During his speech, Mr McCann also thanked everyone who was involved in the project. This included Lucia and Brian McCombe, parents of Daniel, who attends the Rainbow Room at the school.
“Your determination in lobbying the Education Authority to meet its obligations, not only for your son, but for all of our Rainbow Room pupils, has made a lasting difference. We are truly grateful,” Mr McCann said.
He also thanked the other parents of children who attend the Rainbow Room for their “persistence, support and advocacy” for the project. “All our Rainbow Room parents fully supported and lobbied in favour of our application for funding in many ways,” Mr McCann said.
The principal also thanked the Occupational Therapy team from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust for their professional guidance, the Department of Education for the funding for the project and the Education Authority.
Mr McCann said that this new play area will make a real difference for his pupils.
“The equipment was needed to meet the physical and occupational therapy needs of our pupils with severe learning difficulties in our Rainbow Room,” he said. “The resource provides the necessary equipment for the pupils’ gross physical and core development and supports their complex occupational therapy needs. It also assists with emotional dysregulation, and of course to have fun!”
The new play area will be able to be used by all of the St Joseph’s students.
“As the saying goes, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats,’” Mr McCann said. “This state-of-the-art resource will benefit all the pupils in our school for generations. Everyone will have access to it.”
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