The largest and oldest Irish-language primary school in Ireland has begun a campaign to raise €1 million to build an extension on a site that was formerly part of Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick.
An Mhodhscoil, whose past pupils in the modern era include Cranberries star Dolores Riordan and rugby international Paul O'Connell, will use the site to develop facilities for its 545 pupils.
The site, formerly part of the adjoining Sarsfield Barracks, was made available to the school after it was transferred by the Department of Defence to the Department of Education.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said it was a historic occasion for his department.
"This is a historic occasion on the double. It will be the first time the Department of Defence has been able to facilitate a school in this way and the first time that An Mhodhscoil has had the opportunity to extend beyond its otherwise built-up boundaries," said Mr O'Dea.
The school's principal, Diarmuid Ó Murchú, said it was the first time the school, which was established in 1855, would have the space to expand.
At present a former classroom serves as the school's gym and there is no outdoor pitch for the 545 pupils.
"We were delighted to receive the site, without which our plans remained wishful thinking," said Mr Ó Murchú.
The school principal said the €1 million which the school plans to raise would help to upgrade the school in addition to the schedule of improvements proposed by the Department of Education.
The money raised, he added, would enable the school to add a bigger multipurpose room, an all-weather playing pitch,a language laboratory and additional teaching resources for music and computer studies.
"As one of the few remaining model schools in Ireland, our mission is to serve as a model of first-level education," Mr Ó Murchú said. "This extra funding will help us to continue this tradition into the future, particularly in the areas of technology, languages and music."
Appealing to parents of children at the school both past and present, Mr Ó Murchú also urged past pupils of the school to help support the campaign.
Some of the more high-profile past pupils include Minister of State Tim O'Malley, former Cranberries singer Dolores Riordan, showband star Brendan Bowyer and rugby internationals Paul O'Connell and Jerry Flannery.
The school is co-educational and non-denominational.