Sharing the news to social media, a spokesperson for Scoil na Seolta (\u2018School of the Sails\u2019) stated: \u201cVery exciting week for the Scoil as \u00e1r m\u00fainteoir Ciara [Moore] gets ready for Buckingham Palace to visit an R\u00ed – the King! Photos to follow\u201d<\/p>\n
The school on the Montgomery Road, which was previously the target of loyalist opposition, officially opened in February of this year.<\/p>\n
Planning permission for the primary school was granted in June last year.<\/p>\n
It recently welcomed nursery pupils and in September it will welcome the first class of Primary One pupils.<\/p>\n
Ciara Moore, who will be getting ready to meet His Majesty in London this Wednesday, is the nursery manager at Scoil na Seolta.<\/p>\n
She has been invited to the garden party with the Royals \u201cto celebrate and recognise those working in Education and Skills\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ciara started her position at the school back in August.<\/p>\n
Posting on her own online platforms a few months back, she wrote: \u201cAs the first Integrated school in East Belfast, we are proudly bringing children from all backgrounds together to learn, and gifting them a new language to add to their skill set from age 3!<\/p>\n
\u201cI have learned so much in this first term – managing people and supporting children. The most important lesson is that kindness trumps hate and goodness prevails.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am SO excited to see where this journey takes me with the wind in my sails.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scoil na Seolta is backed by Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine and previously said they received over 100 letters from parents expressing interest in sending their child to the school.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Linda Ervine<\/p>\n
Last year, the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) met with Education Minister Paul Givan to voice their objections to the proposed new school in east Belfast. During the meeting, they urged him to halt the project.<\/p>\n
The LCC includes local community representatives and also features members associated with the UVF, UDA, and Red Hand Commando paramilitary groups.<\/p>\n
The meeting sparked backlash and became the subject of widespread criticism<\/a>.<\/p>\n In October, a banner appeared near the proposed school site, urging it to \u201crelocate.<\/a>\u201d Police later removed the banner and classified the incident as a sectarian hate crime.<\/p>\n