Archive - Biggest ever breakthrough in vocational education in Kilkenny (1974)

Plans for the biggest ever breakthrough in vocational education in Kilkenny have been approved by the Minister for Education, Mr R Burke.

Facilities will be provided for an extra 120 students and it is hoped to accommodate 700 students in night classes.

A new building complex estimated to cost well over £400,000 will provide 43 classrooms and extra teaching staff will have to be recruited.

This is a new joint development between St Kieran’s College and the Kilkenny Vocational School and will be operated by a joint management committee consisting of two representatives from the Vocational Educational Committee and one from Kieran’s College.

“I think this is something unique in Ireland,” said Cllr John Holohan, chairman of Kilkenny VEC. “It could not have happened but for the wonderful co-operation of the St Kieran’s College authorities.”

Mr Holohan said the scheme will provide good employment in Kilkenny during construction.

It is understood that to facilitate the new complex Kilkenny Corporation are intending to widen New Street, which divides the college and the vocational school.

The new building will be sited in St Kieran’s College grounds and cover an area of about two acres, this to include provision for sports facilities.

New Hall Will Honour Union Pioneers

Kilkenny’s new £45,000 trade union hall and offices, built by the ITGWU on Patrick Street, is to honour the memory of two pioneers of the Union in Kilkenny, Deputy JP Pattison and Mr Nicholas Boran of Castlecomer.

The announcement was made on Sunday when the premises were officially opened by Senator Fintan Kennedy, general president of the ITGWU.

Good Year For Rugby

Kilkenny rugby football club took one of the biggest steps in its 70-year history when it was decided by the committee that they should take part in the Dublin Metropolitan league next season.

By doing so it is certain to improve the standard of the game in the area.

The league will be divided into sections.

Kilkenny, together with Lansdowne, Drogheda, CYM, Suttonians and Wicklow make up one section.

For three of these games Kilkenny will be hosts, namely Lansdowne, Drogheda (who will be playing for the first time in Kilkenny) and Wicklow.

The two away games will be against CYM and Suttonians.