Cork school warden George making Grattan Street a safer place for young pedestrians

A school warden to calm traffic outside a Cork City centre school is like having a teacher to stop the class from going crazy, according to one grateful student.

The school community in the Cork Educate Together National School (CETNS) on Grattan St has fought to get a school warden for its busy Middle Parish street, and those efforts have finally paid off, with the ideal candidate turning out to be a neighbour.

George Patterson is the chairperson of the Middle Parish Community Association and he runs the Middle Parish Community Centre, which is partnered with CETNS.

Two weeks ago, he was appointed the school’s new school warden, and he said he was delighted with the news.

“My position here is to ensure that the drivers understand the rules of the road when they’re near a school and understand that there is a zebra crossing here, so I make sure that the zebra crossing is always clear while I’m here,” he said.

“I’m only here for a half an hour, but, without a shadow of a doubt, it does make it a lot safer here.”

The son of an Irish father, Mr Patterson was born in Ilford, Essex, and was brought up in Cambridge. He is the singer with The Roaring Forties band and has lived in Ireland for 25 years.

“I know the school,” Mr Patterson said. “They know that I’m here, not just for the reasons of having a job, but also for helping the children across the road and to make this a safe place for them.”

Praise

Speaking with The Echo in the presence of the school’s beloved assistance dog, Shaye, the pupils of CETNS had a lot of praise for the school’s newest arrival.

“George is great,” said Grace Clarkson, age 12.

“I think it’s a bit funny, because all the cars used to be speeding and would go over the zebra crossing, sit on it, and just wait there, but now that there’s actually someone there to stop them, it’s like when a class goes crazy and a teacher walks in, they all go well behaved.”

She added that one councillor, Fine Gael’s Shane O’Callaghan, had offered to help get them a school warden. “So a massive thanks to the council.”

Fred O’Sullivan, aged 11, said he was very happy Mr Patterson was there.

“Drivers are way more aware of him and us, and are looking around and going slower, and it feels a lot safer crossing the road now.”

Our guard

Franek Sobczak, also aged 11, described Mr Patterson as “a very nice man, and he’s really nice around the kids”.

“He’s like our leader; he lets us cross the road safely. There’s no more cars on the zebra crossing now, because he’s like our guard.”

Lena Walsh, aged 12, said: “George is really nice to everyone, no matter the age, and everyone just feels safer crossing the road.”

Skye Dinneen, aged 13, recalled the long campaign that eventually led to Mr Patterson’s appointment.

“Our class started writing letters to get a school warden when we were in third class and fourth class, and it didn’t really work then, so it’s kind of pay-off that we have him now.”

Safe

Hannah Coffey, aged 12, said his presence had made a real difference to life in the school.

“You can just tell that everyone is more comfortable now and they feel safe crossing the road. George is great.”

Maura O’Riordan, principal of CETNS, said she wanted to thank Cork City Council for all of its support.

“Dan Boyle was a huge support to us over the years, and everybody did come together in the end, and every child in the school, now and into the future, will be hugely appreciative, because I have no doubt that George being there will have prevented a child being hurt on what is a very busy street,” Ms O’Riordan said.

“It’s wonderful to see the effect George is having in just a week, the safety, and that sense of being minded and that the children in Cork Educate Together are in safe hands.”