Northern Ireland

Liam Neeson's 'pride' after north's first Catholic school approved for integrated status

Co Antrim-born movie star Liam Neeson has expressed his pride after Northern Ireland’s first Catholic school was approved for integrated status
Co Antrim-born movie star Liam Neeson has expressed his pride after Northern Ireland’s first Catholic school was approved for integrated status Co Antrim-born movie star Liam Neeson has expressed his pride after Northern Ireland’s first Catholic school was approved for integrated status

LIAM Neeson has told of his pride after Northern Ireland’s first Catholic school was approved for integrated status.

The Hollywood star, who has been a long-term advocate of integrated education in the north, sent a video to all parents and schools who have undertaken the rigorous voting process as part of the Integrated Education Fund’s (IEF) `Integrate My School' campaign.

Ballymena-born Neeson was speaking as Seaview Primary School in Glenarm became the first Catholic school to have been approved for integrated status.

Speaking on the video, the 68-year-old said: "I am delighted that so many parents across Northern Ireland are choosing an integrated future for their children.

"The recent news that Seaview Primary School in Glenarm is set to become the first Catholic school to become integrated is a positive step forward on the journey to an inclusive society.

"I'm delighted to say that Seaview is just one of a number of schools that has conducted a democratic ballot of its parents since the `Integrate My School Campaign' was launched just a few years ago".

The Taken star congratulated "all of the parents, staff and governors in schools right across Northern Ireland, who are taking courageous steps to ensure children from different traditions, will get to learn and play together, every day, in the same school.

"You are actively helping to build inclusive communities,"he said.

"Well done. I am so proud of you all."

The IEF’s Integrate My School Campaign has contributed to a surge in interest in integrated schooling and has attracted the support of thousands of parents with Seaview Primary being just one of eight schools where parental ballots have been held in support of the formal integration move.

Among the other schools which have undergone the process are Glengormley High School, two oversubscribed nursery schools in Belfast and Bangor, Brefne and Bangor Central, two sustainable primary schools in Belfast and Carrickfergus, Harding Memorial and Carrickfergus Central, St Mary’s Brollagh in Fermanagh and Ballyhackett Primary School near Coleraine.

DUP Education Minister, Peter Weir rejected the proposal from St Mary’s in Brollagh.

The minister is expected to make decisions shortly on whether to approve a number of remaining proposals.