Scoil Mhuire GNS - Sanctuary Schools Grass & Playground Equipment

A school yard tells you a lot about a school. At Scoil Mhuire Girls' National School in Lucan, the outdoor space was functional - but the school had a bigger vision for it. The existing surface was concrete, the kind that gets cold, hard, and uninviting through an Irish winter. It did the job, but it wasn't the active, welcoming environment the school wanted for its pupils.

The school decided to do something about it. Parents, staff, and the wider school community fundraised to make it happen - and SchoolsGrass was brought in to deliver the transformation.

The brief was clear. The school wanted a multi-use games area that could handle daily PE, break time activity, and structured sport. It needed to be safe, look well, and stand up to heavy use from a full school of active girls. What they got exceeded that brief on every count.

The design is flexible by intention. The pitch can be used as one full-sized playing area for larger groups, or divided into smaller zones so multiple classes can use it at the same time. That kind of flexibility is practical in a busy school environment where PE schedules don't always line up with available space.

The first priority was safety. Before any grass went down, a shockpad layer was installed across the surface. On a previously concrete yard, this was non-negotiable - it provides the impact absorption needed to meet safety standards and makes a real difference for pupils using the space every day. Fencing was also installed around the area to define the space and keep play contained safely.

On top of the shockpad, SchoolsGrass laid a vibrant, high-quality artificial grass surface. The centrepiece is a full MUGA - a multi-use games area - finished with a blue grass perimeter and crisp white grass line markings for goals and pitch zones. It's a professional finish that works for football, tag rugby, and a range of other activities without needing repainting or ongoing maintenance.

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Wrapping the entire area is a two-lane running track in bold red and blue. It's designed with the Daily Mile in mind - giving pupils a dedicated, all-weather route for their daily movement - but it pulls double duty for PE classes, warm-ups, and general activity at break time. The colour combination gives the whole space an energy that a grey concrete yard simply can't match.

The design is flexible by nature. The MUGA can be used as a single full-size pitch or split into zones for smaller groups. The running track operates independently of whatever is happening on the pitch. Multiple classes can use the space at the same time without getting in each other's way - which matters in a busy school with a packed weekly timetable.

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It's worth noting that not all of the yard was included in this phase. The school made a deliberate decision to focus on the key activity areas first, leaving some of the remaining concrete with an eye on future phases as fundraising continues. It's a practical approach, and SchoolsGrass will be back to complete the picture when the school is ready.

The result so far speaks for itself. What was a plain concrete yard is now a bright, bold, multi-use space that the whole school community can be proud of. The grass is low-maintenance, the markings won't fade, and the surface performs in all weather. From the first day it opened, pupils have been making full use of every corner of it.

Scoil Mhuire had a vision for their outdoor space. With some determination, a lot of community effort, and the right installation partner, they've made it a reality.