Completion of new €20m Moville Community College a ‘hugely significant milestone’

Inishowen’s newest €20 million school is now all but complete, with students set to begin classes in the gargantuan Moville Community College during the first weeks of 2026.

Principal Caroline Doherty has confirmed that the keys of the new building have been handed over, while students and staff have toured the impressive facilities.

She has described the moment as a “hugely significant milestone for our entire school community”.

Construction work began in the summer of 2023 on the massive 5,274 square-metre extension, which comprises ten general classrooms, ten specialist teaching rooms, a large-scale PE Hall, library, staff room and a special needs suite.

Moville Councillor Martin Farren, who has worked tirelessly on the project for the past decade-plus, couldn’t be more proud of the new school, which he says is one of the best in the country.

“We were shown around it just a few weeks ago, and I have to say I was absolutely blown away by the school itself; the interior, the whole building itself is just absolutely mind-blowing. It’s absolutely beautiful, and an incredible job.”

“I'm very, very proud, and I'm sure everybody will be very proud of the building we have there now. I really just want to wish the staff and the pupils the very best in the future.”

“The new school was something that was very badly needed and it took a long time to come but it’s great to have it there now. I really want to thank everyone who helped us get it over the line.”

Some €10m in funding was announced for the new school by Labour Minister of Education Jan O’Sullivan at the beginning of 2016, and, a decade later, it’s finally complete, as Cllr Farren further explains.

“I was putting pressure on Minister O’Sullivan at that time, and thankfully, she took my concerns on board. It was one of the last acts of the Labour government to announce funding for the school in Moville at that time.”

“Little did I know that it would take us approximately another ten years for it to be completed, but it’s well worth it now. It’s just absolutely fantastic to have the new school there now.”

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Minister of State Charlie McConalogue has described the new building as a “major project for Inishowen that will breathe new life into the school and the town of Moville.”

“I commend the work of school principal Caroline Doherty, the staff, the board of management, the parents’ association, Donegal ETB, the Department of Education and Woodvale Construction Company on this long-awaited extension which has been finished to the highest standard.”

“I was glad to work with local councillors, Martin McDermott and Martin Farren. The opening of the new extension will be a great day for Inishowen.”

An open evening for parents, guardians and the wider school community to be confirmed soon, will give everyone a chance to see the new facilities at firsthand.

Meanwhile, building works will continue into the new year at MCC, as the project moves into Phase Two, which will involve the demolition of the lower building, the construction of hard play areas, parking bays and the widening of the entrance.