Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) were delighted to welcome Minister Helen Mc Entee and
Minister of State Thomas Byrne to Ashbourne Community National School on Friday 31 May 2024 to officially
open the new school building located at Killegland, Ashbourne, Co. Meath.

Ashbourne CNS, which is under the patronage of LMETB, opened its doors to 98 pupils in September 2019
under the patronage of LMETB and today has an enrolment of close to 300 pupils with demand for places for the
2024/2025 academic year increasing on a daily basis. The Leadership and Management team at the school
includes Ms. Jenny Byrne, Principal and Mr. Seamus Mc Carthy, Deputy Principal.

The new school building is a state of the art facility that provides a range of bright and spacious teaching and
learning spaces, a PE hall where the school can promote and support students’ mental health and well-being
through their involvement in Physical education and sport, four Special Classes along with sensory spaces, a
daily living skills area and a soft play area.

Speaking at the opening, Chief Executive of LMETB, Mr. Martin G O’ Brien outlined that LMETB was
delighted to be approached by the Department of Education in April 2019 to open a multi-denominational, co-
educational school in Ashbourne to address a shortage of school places in the Ashbourne area. Having started
with 98 pupils, the school has grown rapidly over the last five years and LMETB are delighted that the pupils
attending the school and the staff working there have a state of the art building to provide a quality learning
experience with the learner as core. Mr. O’ Brien expressed his thanks to the Department of Education Planning
and Building Unit, the contractors and the LMETB Land and Buildings Section for their efforts in developing this
modern educational facility for the young people of Ashbourne.

Director of Schools, Fiona Kindlon explained that LMETB is fully committed to supporting the education of
students with Autism in the Louth and Meath area and the opening of two new Special Classes in Ashbourne
CNS in September 2024 with a provision for 12 pupils, along with the opening of LMETB Community Special
School in Enfield, Co. Meath will greatly enhance the LMETB provision for students with autism across the
Louth and Meath region.

Principal of Ashbourne CNS, Jenny Byrne outlined how Ashbourne CNS is very proud of its curriculum, co-
curricular and extra curricular achievements since the opening of the school in 2019. Jenny also outlined that
Ashbourne CNS includes students from a diverse range of nationalities and is extremely proud of the work that
continues in the school around inclusion and diversity. Jenny also thanked the hard working staff, Student
Council, Parent School Partnership committee, Board of Management members and Parents Association
members for their ongoing contribution to the school and support over the last five years.

LMETB is the largest comprehensive educational provider in the Louth and Meath region with a range of educational services from primary to post primary and further education and training. Further information on
Ashbourne CNS is available on https://ashbournecns.ie/ Further information on LMETB is available on
www.lmetb.ie or follow us on Twitter @LouthMeath ETB, Facebook and Instagram