Great delight swept through the school with the news that the long-awaited sports hall had been given the green light. It was like relief of Ladysmith during the Boer War, says principal Seamus McPhillips. The new hall at St Mac Dara's Community College, Templeogue, Dublin, is expected to be ready next September.

Almost the whole school came out to witness the recent signing of the formal contractual document between the VEC, the architects and the board of management. According to McPhillips, the go-ahead is largely due to a very committed parents' association headed by three key people - Carmel Meade-Wilson, Gerry Hughes and Pascal Birmingham.

The college was built in 1982 on a green-field site. In 16 years its roll has grown from 66 students to today's establishment of 900 students and 55 teachers. It's a busy, bustling place with a wide range of subjects, sports and activities.

"I like the school because of the way it's involved in a lot of things, says Anne Marie O'Brien, a Leaving Cert student who is head girl. "St Mac Dara's has something for everyone." She's only sorry that she won't be around to enjoy the new sports hall.

The best aspect of the college is the students, says McPhillips, from Aghaboy, Co Monaghan. "They are nice and co-operative. They are very good achievers. They have a very good idea about what they want for their school and for themselves and what they want to achieve in life. There's a good spirit here." The school has a mix of students from the south-west Dublin area plus a smaller number from the rural hinterland around Blessington and north Co Wicklow. There are also students from various religious backgrounds.

"We try and keep a balance across the school," says the principal. "It leads to greater understanding." He adds that a majority of students come from homes where both parents work.

He regards debating, various sporting activities and music which have been developed by vice-principal John O'Shea, as being particularly important in the school. He is proud of these developments - and of the European languages department which offers Italian, Spanish, French and German.

St Mac Dara's is alma mater to pop singer Kerri-Ann Keogh; to Barry Quinn, the captain of the soccer team which won the European Under-18 Championships; and to international model Zeena Eate. Past pupils are encouraged to keep the school up to date on what's happening in their lives.

Everything is put up on a notice board along two corridors which is packed with pictures and news of past pupils. It's part of the wider community ethos that the school promotes, McPhillips explains. "We try and foster a spirit of togetherness, rather than them and us," he says.