‘We had no real appreciation of the history of architecture of the school - it was just school’

The iconic St Finian's Seminary Study Hall which was built in 1842, became St Patrick's Classical School in the 1930s, providing secondary education for local boys until the school moved to its current location at Moatlands in 1970.

Declan Murray was one of the students who spent his teenage years in the unusual duck-egg shaped building.

“I was a student there until 1959. When we went in, we went up the stairs and the big study hall was where they had the first years. On a Tuesday, all the desks were put to one side and we had PE.

“The boys who lived in the town used to come back for 'study' from 6 to 8pm.

“Second year students were in the room near the railway line and at the side nearest the town, the third, fifth and sixth classes were altogether.

“At that time, we had no real appreciation of the history of architecture of the school - it was just school.

“We did appreciate the handball alley and the tennis area at the side. We used to play tip rugby as well.”

Declan's father, Cormac built a new science lab at the school in the 1950s. “I remember Bishop Kyne coming to officially open it,” Declan recalls.

“I've happy memories of going to school there, apart from one teacher who was keen on corporal punishment!

“I have great memories of Fr Sean Kenny who taught science and he was instrumental in forming my career path. I studied science in UCD and was appointed to the academic staff there.”

The building formed the nucleus of the St Finian's Seminary buildings, founded by Bishop Patrick Plunkett in 1802 which fronted onto Academy Street. Around 1842 Rev Nicholas Power built the Study Hall, which became known as ‘Power’s Duck Egg’ due to its elliptical plan or oval shape. The seminary moved to Mullingar in 1908.

In 1930 the former study hall was refitted, decorated and equipped and was opened by Dr Mulvany as St Patrick’s Classical School with 20 pupils on its roll book. Over the years it averaged 50 students a year.

In 1970 the old Study Hall was closed and St Patrick's Classical School moved to a new purpose-built school at Moatlands, bringing to an end its long association with education and learning.

The building was acquired by Navan Town Council in 2006.