Speaking at a tree planting Ceremony at the site of the New Athy Community College, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described how the development so far had broken all speed limits.
On Fri 3rd November An Taoiseach was welcomed to the site of the new College by Richard Daly who described the historic moment as a new beginning in education for the town which will benefit students and the town in general and should act as a great attraction to intending business development.
Mr Ahern stressed the importance of education and the governments commitment to funding same.  The Taoiseach commented on how the project to date had broken all speed records with the Dept of Education and Science to date in getting to this stage so fast.
Mr Ahern told a large gathering of college supporters how he envisioned the project continuing at the same speed to provide what he described as a "state of the Art" facility.  He described how the Irish builders had assured him that they could handle all of the building projects and he said how this would give them an opportunity to prove it.  Inviting the Taoiseach to plant a symbolic oak tree on the site of the Community College, Sen Seán Ó Fearghaill stressed the importance of the oak tree for Kildare and the VEC and hoped that Mr Ahern would visit us to open the new college before too many new leaves appeared on the tree.  The senator , who is the Chairman of Kildare VEC paid special thanks to both the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Finance, both of whom are personally committed to the project.
The Taoiseach was then presented with a painting by a former VEC pupil and current teacher, Linda Holligan, by school principal Richard Daly.  The CEO of Co. Kildare VEC also presented the Taoiseach with a commemorative plaque.
Mr Ahern then planted a young oak tree on the site and posed for photographs with students and well-wishers