An elderly Catholic priest gave up his weekly pension to help build a much-needed extension to a school in Donegal.
Fr Eoghan O'Frighil (76) and the parents of the parish of Killymard decided to pay for the extra classrooms themselves rather than wait for State funding.
They celebrated yesterday with 227 pupils at the formal opening of the €270,000 extension to Scoil an Leanbh Iosa, two miles from Donegal Town.
When the rate of increase of the population of the parish accelerated there was pressure for more space in the seven-classroom primary school.
An additional two classrooms, an enlarged kitchen and toilet facilities were needed.
Fr O'Frighil, who is parish priest and chairman of the school board, said the community applied for grants for the extension, but were told they would have to go on a waiting list.
The Department of Education offered €70,000 for a prefab building pending a decision on funding for a permanent structure.
Fr O'Frighil said: "We might have had to wait up to five years, and the parents didn't want to place their children in a prefab structure.
"There was only one thing for it. The community decided to build the extension themselves. The education of our children is too important for any dilly-dallying."
In November 2003 they set about a series of fundraising events. Fr O'Frighil promised the church would match from parish funds every euro raised by the community.
Between them they raised €200,000 in 19 months. The community's €100,000 included the priest's own €90 a week pension from the State. The Department of Education was persuaded to provide the remaining €70,000 in lieu of a prefab.
Fr O'Frighil said: "When I saw the great sacrifices the parents were prepared to make, and their enthusiasm for the venture, I was only too glad to make my own little contribution.
"I would suggest to every community in Ireland to follow the example of the wonderful people of Killymard if they can't get whatever grants they think they may be entitled to.
"There's no point in hanging about waiting for something to happen when our children's education is at stake."