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Mr Noel Erskine, chairman of Richmond Primary School Board of Governors, welcomed Dr McCord to the new school along with other guests.
Pupils sang carols in the Smyth Memorial Hall beside the school before moving to the new building for the unveiling of the plaque by Dr McCord.
Dr McCord said: “This bright new school is an exciting development for the Ballygawley area. It is particularly exciting for the younger generation of this community.
"I wish the principal Mrs Vivian Robinson, the pupils and all the staff well as they look forward to what I hope are many happy years in Richmond Primary School."
SELB chairman Mrs Moira Alexander said: “This development reflects the commitment of the SELB to providing high quality buildings for the education of our young people.
"Although school buildings are important, education would not take place without a dedicated staff and I pay tribute to Mrs Robinson and her colleagues for their work in making pupils feel welcome at Richmond."
Mrs Robinson, who thanked Dr McCord for carrying out the official opening, said: "We are delighted with this new school and any teacher would be thrilled to work in a building with such wonderful facilities.
"We recognise the importance of such provision but of prime importance in Richmond Primary School are the children and the wider community from which they come.
"As principal of the new school I have received wonderful support from the parents of pupils, both during class time and for the various activities which take place outside of school time. Pupils and staff were perhaps a little apprehensive on leaving Innismagh and Ballygawley Primary Schools but a great sense of community has been developed in this new school and this would not have happened without the support of parents.”
The principal also paid tribute to those responsible for the scheme including SELB Architects and the main contractor Woodvale Construction, Omagh, for the quality of the design and the building.
There are 92 pupils enrolled in Primary 1 to Primary 7. The Richmond development comprises 5 classrooms served off two resource areas and a special needs room. The single story building comprises a mutli-purpose hall, kitchen, staffroom, toilets, office and store facilities. A play area has been provided for recreation use of the primary school pupils.
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