Work begins on 'significant extension' of historic Clare school

Work on the development of a 30,000 square feet extension of St. Flannan’s College has commenced after the Department of Education approved the development of new classroom space at the Ennis secondary school.

The rapid-build project is expected to be largely completed by the start of the next school year in September 2025 and will include three Science Laboratories, six Special Educational Needs (SEN) classrooms and a Technology room.

Meanwhile, existing accommodation also will be reconfigured for classrooms.

In a unique cross-school partnership, the 297 students of Knockanean National School will be accommodated at the new St. Flannan’s development until their approved new national school is delivered.

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Approval has already been granted for the new development, which will consist of a two-storey building on the site of the existing primary school.

Fr. Iggy McCormack, Principal of St. Flannan’s Secondary School has described the approval of funding for the project as “much needed boost” to one of the country’s largest schools.

He continued, “We are fortunate to have the land space to develop new facilities which, once completed, will have a long-lasting, positive impact on our ability to accommodate our growing school population.

"More importantly, the provision of new SEN Classrooms is timely as there currently is an extreme shortage of such facilities in the wider Ennis area.”

The school population increased from 1,201 to 1,280 in September this year, and Fr McCormack said the school must "deliver the necessary infrastructure befitting of a modern, proactive, welcoming and inclusive 21st century educational facility", as they expect to "grow our numbers further in future years".

"The commencement of works on the approved additional classroom space will be welcomed by parents, teachers and students alike,” concluded Fr. McCormack.

“The Board wishes to acknowledge the invaluable support provided by the Department of Education down through the years, including the sanctioning of additional teachers and the funding required to facilitate the steady growth in the number of enrolled students and to develop facilities that enable us to further improve and expand our delivery of vital educational services," Leonard Cleary, Chair of the Board of Management of St. Flannan’s College said.

Visit www.stflannanscollege.ie for more.