Sod turned on long awaited O’Carolan College building

Contractors moved on site this week to begin work on the long-awaited new school building for O'Carolan College, Nobber.

Ganson Building and Civil Engineering Ltd has been appointed contractor for the project, with construction expected to take 18 months. The new school will be built on the existing football pitch at the site and students will continue to attended classes in the existing school while work is ongoing.

Ministers Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne visited the school recently for the turning of the sod to mark the commencement of work. Also in attendance were Cllr Nick Killian Chairperson of Meath County Council, Cllr Eugene Cassidy Chairperson Kells Municipal District, Cllr Paul Mc Cabe Chairperson of Board of Management.

Sinéad Murphy, Head of Land and Buildings, LMETB said that the event was a special day for the pupil’s staff and the wider community who all played a part in getting the project to this point.

"It will be a brand new, state of the art education facility for the 575 pupils and staff at the college extending to over 7,500 square metres.

“It is anticipated that the entire suite of works will be completed by the end of 2025," she said.

LMETB CEO Martin O'Brien thanked his own staff in LMETB, the Design Team, LMETB, parents, students and teachers and said that he was very pleased that O’ Carolan College would now have a state of the art second level school with the very latest technological equipment and it would mean that for the first time all students will be educated under the same roof.

Minister McEntee said she was delighted that Nobber would finally receive its new school and she paid tribute to the work of Mr O’ Brien and his Land and Building team headed up by Ms Sinéad Murphy in progressing this project in what were very difficult circumstances.