Twenty Five years ago Irish Second Level Education was at the prefabricated stage and Bartna Buildings and Pritchard designs dotted the landscape. St. David's was one of the first Primary prefab school. My first impressions of the wire compound on the Kilmore Road, in the Spring of 1968, were very mixed. I welcomed the green fields and the possilities they contained but dreaded the potholed building site that epitomised that part of Artane at the time.

Jim McGinley (the man from 'Synger') whom I met for the first time one Easter evening in Marino, brought experience and gravitas to the venture. His was the only grey head present. Jim became a father figure, confidant, colleague and friend. Other staff appointments quickly followed. Only the best would be good enough for this new venture and 'inside information' ensured that we got the best from both camps that year. John McGarry, Michael O Braonain were ably complemented by Br. Christy Kerins and Tom Holland. The staff bonded together into a capable, formidable team.

Recruitment of children was no problem and each new day from Easter onwards brought its crop of resettled 'Jackeens' who in Brendan Behan terms had passed through Fairview and were now in the country. These children and their families left the environs of Ringsend, Pearse Street and the Catte Mart for the green pastures of Cromcastle and Bonnybrook.

During that summer of 1968 a new community was born and success on the sports field gave a new identity, pride and bonding to the immigrants.

Those were young, happy, exciting days in St. David's imbued as we were with a collective sense of mission and project.

The move to the lately closed Industrial School during the second year afforded us extra facilities if the form of a swimming pool, enormous play area (hard and soft), a pet lamb, an aquarium and an art area. Such facilities were used to the full and football leagues, swimming galas, sports and recorder practice were the order of the day. We did have 'time out' on occasions and staff outings and trips are fondly remembered.

Hindsight always offers 20/20 vision but we really were ahead of our time in may areas. We were familiar with the language of the Commitments before Roddy Doyle came on the scene. We were integrating students with 'special needs' into mainstream education years before this became fashionable.

Those early years were memorable ones. One tends to remember the bright shafts of sunlight rather than the rainclouds - though they were there too.

May the next twenty five years be as productive and rewarding.