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Irish Post
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Post
Principal's ‘inspirational leadership' commended as he announces retirement from historic Irish school
A PRINCIPAL who has served at an historic Irish secondary school for more than eight years has announced his retirement. Father Ignatius McCormack will retire from his position as principal of St. Flannan's College in September, bringing an end to his 24-year career at the school in Ennis, Co. Clare. Fr McCormack, who hails from Kilcolman in Co. Offaly, first joined St. Flannan's in 2001 as a teacher. Father Ignatius McCormack has announced his retirement He later served as dean of the boarding school before being appointed principal in 2017. 'It has been a great privilege to serve as principal of St. Flannan's College, a place I fell in love with when I first drove through its gates in 2001,' he said this week. 'I am deeply grateful to the staff, students, parents, and board of management for their support over the years,' he added. 'As I prepare to step back, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and pride in what we have accomplished together.' Bishop of Killaloe Fintan Monahan, who is patron of St. Flannan's College, described Fr. Ignatius as an 'inspirational leader and a steady hand at the helm of St. Flannan's College'. 'His leadership has been marked by a deep commitment to the values and mission of Catholic education, fostering a spirit of compassion, integrity, and excellence,' he explained. 'His impact on the life of the school is immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed.' After a sabbatical following his retirement, Fr. Ignatius is set to return to parish ministry. The board at St. Flannan's has confirmed the process to appoint a new principal will begin in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. Fr Ignatius McCormack and Bishop of Killaloe and Patron of St. Flannan's College, Fintan Monahan (Pic: Paul Corey) 'Fr Ignatius McCormack's tenure has been marked by inspiring leadership, unwavering commitment, and genuine pastoral care,' Leonard Cleary, Chairperson of the St. Flannan's College Board of Management, said. 'Thanks to his guidance, the school and its students have thrived academically and spiritually. 'I extend our heartfelt thanks for his exceptional service and wish him every blessing as he embarks on the next chapter of his priestly ministry.' Taking its name from the 7th-century patron saint of the Dál gCais, St Flannan's can trace its origins back to Springfield House in Ennis in 1846. It relocated to the current school 30 years later, which underwent a significant expansion during the 1960s and again in 2003. Co-educational classes were introduced at the school in 2002. Fr Ignatius McCormack pictured with members of the board of St. Flannan's College. Back row (l-r) Benny Duggan, Daragh Hassett, Leonard Cleary (Chair), Bishop Fintan Monahan (School Patron), and Christy O'Connor. Front row (l-r) Tracey O'Donoghue, Elaine Duffy, Marion Coughlan Flynn, Marie Keane. (Pic: Paul Corey) Fr McCormack's retirement later this year will coincide with the opening of the first phase of a significant expansion of the historic St. Flannan's campus. The new 2,500 sqm development features special educational needs facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. The expansion is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland.
Irish Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Expansion of historic school offers template for rapid builds across Ireland
A SIGNIFICANT expansion project at an historic Irish secondary school is set to create a template for rapid builds across the country. Phase one of the project at St. Flannan's College campus in Ennis, county Clare, will be ready for the next school semester in September. The 2,500 sqm development at the site, which is the largest school in Munster, includes new special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. An artist's impression of the new 2,500 sqm development at St Flannan's College in Ennis, County Clare. (Pic: Healy Partners Architects) Supported by the Department of Education, the expansion project is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout the country. St Flannan's College principle Father Iggy McCormack said the completion of the new facilities will 'significantly enhance' the school's capacity to support its growing student population, which is currently at 1,280 pupils. 'Our enrolment numbers are expected to grow further in the coming years, which is why investment is needed in our infrastructure to support a modern, proactive, welcoming, and inclusive 21st-century educational environment,' he said. 'Most importantly, the addition of new SEN classrooms comes at a critical time, addressing the severe shortage of such spaces in the greater Ennis area." In September the school will share their new space with 297 pupils from the nearby Knockanean National School. The children will be accommodated at the new development until their approved new national school is delivered. Contractor Lidan Designs and Healy Partners Architects were tasked with delivering the St Flannan's project within a 12-month period. Construction began in January 2025, with prefabricated elements arriving on site by April. Fr. Iggy McCormack, Principal of St. Flannan's College, and Aran Healy, Architect and Director of Healy Partners Architects, pictured at the site of a 2,500 sqm development at St. Flannan's College in Ennis, County Clare. (Pic: Paul Corey) The building will now be delivered in phases from July, with full completion scheduled for December 2025. Aran Healy, Architect and Director of Healy Partners Architects, explained that from the outset of the project a commitment was made to deliver the building using modern methods of construction (MMC) to 'achieve efficiency, speed, and quality'. 'The new development includes six SEN classroom bases, along with a suite of dedicated support spaces – central activity zones, practical skills areas, indoor and outdoor breakout spaces, and accessible play areas,' he said. '87 per cent of the building is prefabricated off-site by Lidan Designs in Roscommon, a national leader in sustainable and bespoke timber construction. 'This off-site approach has enabled tighter quality control, reduced environmental impact, and faster on-site assembly.' He added: 'What sets this project apart is its ability to act as both a contemporary educational facility and a respectful architectural response to a cherished historic setting. 'The design emerges quietly from the landscape - fragmented into four pavilion-like forms that echo the rhythm of the trees and contours of the site. 'Using sustainable timber construction and biophilic principles, we've created a calm, inclusive environment that supports diverse learning needs while nearly disappearing into its natural surroundings. 'It's a building that speaks softly, but with purpose.'
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Major extension of Clare secondary school to host first students in September
St Flannan's College campus in Ennis recently became Munster's largest school Today at 06:02 The first phase of a significant expansion of St Flannan's College campus, the historic school in County Clare and Munster's largest school, will be completed in time for the beginning of the next school semester in September. The expansion of St. Flannan's College campus in Ennis comprises special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. The 2,500 sqm development is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland. Appointed in September 2024, contractor Lidan Designs and the award-winning design team at Healy Partners Architects were tasked with delivering a fully completed school within a 12-month period. Construction began in January 2025, with prefabricated elements arriving on site by April. The building will be delivered in phases from July, with full completion scheduled for December. At the end of the first phase, 297 students of Knockanean National School will be accommodated at the new St. Flannan's development from September until their approved new national school is delivered. Fr Iggy McCormack, Principal of St. Flannan's College, said the completion of the new facilities will significantly enhance the secondary school's capacity to support its growing student population, which increased to 1,280 for the current school year. He explained: 'Our enrolment numbers are expected to grow further in the coming years, which is why investment is needed in our infrastructure to support a modern, proactive, welcoming, and inclusive 21st-century educational environment. Most importantly, the addition of new SEN classrooms comes at a critical time, addressing the severe shortage of such spaces in the greater Ennis area." 'On behalf of the Board of Management, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Minister for Education Helen McEntee, her predecessor Norma Foley, and the staff of the Planning and Building Unit in the Department for supporting the educational needs of our school and those of our 34 feeder schools. The completion of these new facilities will be warmly welcomed by parents, teachers, and students alike." Aran Healy, Architect and Director of Healy Partners Architects, explained that the project has been designated as an exemplar scheme by the Department of Education. From the outset, he said, a commitment was made to deliver the building using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to achieve efficiency, speed, and quality. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Healy said: 'The new development includes six SEN classroom bases, along with a suite of dedicated support spaces – central activity zones, practical skills areas, indoor and outdoor breakout spaces, and accessible play areas. 87% of the building is prefabricated off-site by Lidan Designs in Roscommon, a national leader in sustainable and bespoke timber construction. This off-site approach has enabled tighter quality control, reduced environmental impact, and faster on-site assembly.' 'What sets this project apart is its ability to act as both a contemporary educational facility and a respectful architectural response to a cherished historic setting,' added Mr Healy.
