The development has been in planning since 2006 but has been plagued by obstacles – the latest of which was the Covid-19 pandemic.
School principal Mr Robert O’Reilly has confirmed to the Western People this morning that the official letter of acceptance has been issued to the successful contractor and that the builders are expected to be on site by the October bank holiday weekend.
The new school, which will accommodate 650 pupils on a 5.6ha site – north of the existing St. Mary’s School on Convent Hill.
It represents a new model for Irish secondary schools and has been designed to meet the demands of new modes of learning.
It will comprise of a courtyard building composed of the classrooms organised over two levels in an L-shaped block and the shared spaces of a GP hall, multi use hall and sports facilities on ground level wrapping around the courtyard on three sides.
The external courtyard is open to the east, providing spectacular views of the Ox Mountains while the design strategy behind the landscaping of the school grounds allows for taking learning beyond the classroom and into the landscape.
These specifications are geared at facilitating improved teaching through the provision of an energetic and welcoming environment that is conducive to intellectual, creative, physical and social activity.
Mr O’Reilly said the entire school community is delighted to finally see the planned campus commence.
Noting that the development has been pursued since 2006, he paid tribute to the Order of Mercy for providing the site for the new school free of charge and for endless behind-the-scenes support as well as the Diocese of Killala which interceded to resolve issues with accessing the site.
Mr O’Reilly also extended his thanks to everyone else that has helped to bring the project to fruiting including the school’s current and past Board of Directors, staff and principals over the years.
The project’s original 18 month timescale has been extended by two months because of the constraints of working during the Covid-19 pandemic which means classes should get underway in the new building in September, 2022.