Work on new school for O'Carolan College to begin next week

Work is due to begin on Monday on the new school building for O'Carolan College, Nobber, following the turning of the sod on the long-awaited project earlier this week.

Ganson Building and Civil Engineering Ltd has been appointed contractor for the project, with construction expected to take 18 months.

Louth and Meath Education and Training Board has confirmed that work will commence on site on Monday, 15th May.

On Tuesday, Minister Helen McEntee visited O’ Carolan College to turn the sod for the new school. She was joined by Minister Thomas Byrne TD, Cllr Nick Killian Chairperson of Meath County Council, Cllr Eugene Cassidy Chairperson Kells Municipal District, Cllr Paul Mc Cabe Chairperson of Board of Management, members of LMETB, members of the Board of Management, Parents Association, representatives of industry and of the community and friends of the school. Also in attendance were the Chief Executive of LMETB Martin G O’ Brien, Director of Schools Ms Fiona Kindlon, Head of Land and Buildings Ms Sinéad Murphy, Principal, staff and students of O’ Carolan College.

Ms Sinéad Murphy, Head of Land and Buildings, LMETB said that the event was a special day for the pupil’s staff and the wider community who all played a part in getting the project to this point.

"It will be a brand new, state of the art education facility for the 575 pupils and staff at the college. Extending to over 7,500 square metres, the new three storey building will provide science labs, arts and crafts room, construction and engineering rooms, a full size sports hall, a four-class special education needs unit, a double height library and a multi-purpose hall designed to accommodate the entire school community. It is anticipated that the entire suite of works will be completed by the end of 2025," she said.

Minister McEntee said she was delighted that Nobber would finally receive its new school and she paid tribute to the work of Chief Executive Martin G O’ Brien and his Land and Building team headed up by Ms Sinéad Murphy in progressing this project in what were very difficult circumstances.

Acknowledging the long journey to Tuesday's ceremony she thanked parents, staff and pupils for their patience, representations, and support. She added that the dedication and hard work of the entire LMETB team in providing state of the art facilities, excellence in teaching and learning, Further Education and Training innovations and administration are commendable .

Cllr Nick Killian Chairperson Meath County Council congratulated the entire school community on reaching Tuesday's milestone and noted that it was a particularly important day for the Chief Executive as he is a former pupil of O’ Carolan College.

Principal Brian Goggins said: “We are absolutely delighted with the arrival of this very special day here at O’ Carolan College as we take the first steps to our new building. Students, parents and staff are really overjoyed that this day has finally come. They have worked and campaigned for many years, and they now see the fruits of all their efforts”.

The Chief Executive thanked his own staff in LMETB, the Design Team, LMETB, parents, students and teachers and said that he was very pleased that O’ Carolan College would now have a state of the art second level school with the very latest technological equipment and it would mean that for the first time all students will be educated under the same roof.

He acknowledged the contribution of former staff and referenced the role played by the late John Finegan RIP, a former principal at the school. He acknowledged the presence of Maeve Finegan wife of the late John Finegan and thanked John Holland former principal, Dan Toole former deputy principal, Kay Coghlan former deputy principal and Johnnie Grant, former principal.

In his concluding remarks, he referenced the first O’ Carolan College Yearbook of 1982 and the visionary contributions of John Finegan, principal, Peter McCormack Mathematics and ICT, Sean Gilsenan, Engineering, Ellen Greaney, Geography and English, Sheila Coogan (RIP) and Pat Marley Guidance and counselling.

He said "the solid foundations laid in the early years clearly put O’ Carolan College to the fore in the provision of quality teaching and learning" and he was confident that the current teachers and staff under the leadership of Principal Brian Goggins will bring the education of our young people to the next level in this new school.