As many as 120 new pupils will be enrolled at a new £1.5 primary school at Aghadrumsee.

This week pupils and staff from Corranny Primary School and Cornagague Primary School cut the first sod to signal the start of construction work for one new building following the amalgamation of both schools.

The new co-educational maintained primary school will be built on a greenfield site by local contractor Tracey Brothers Ltd.

Construction materials are already on site and it is hoped that the children should be behind their desks in the new school as early as next April.

Speaking on behalf of both schools, senior trustee, Father Larry Duffy, said that the schools had been rewarded for their patience. "This is an important day for both schools who have dreamt of this day happening and who have been rewarded for their patience. This new construction project represents a significant investment, not only for our pupils, but for the entire community. A school such as this is absolutely vital to a rural community. We would like to welcome our special guests today who are helping us to mark this special occasion and we would also like to thank all those who have worked with us from the very start to help us reach this stage of the project. We are already looking forward to a new chapter for the pupils and staff of Corranny and Cornagague when we can open the doors of our new school." Mr. Jim Clarke, Deputy Chief Executive for the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) said: "I would like to pay tribute to the Trustees, Principals, governors, staff and all those who have been involved in the realisation of a new school for Corranny and Cornagague. This is a flagship development for the community that will provide a much needed new school for the pupils.

"All children deserve to be taught in modern, fit for purpose classrooms where they can avail of the latest technology and teaching approaches. Today brings us ever closer to this aspiration being a reality for the pupils of these two schools. With an enrolment of over 120 pupils this new school will also meet the criteria for the Department of Education Sustainable Schools policy. We look forward to working with all those involved on this project to provide an outstanding new school for the area."