Public consultation under way for former Nobber National School refurbishment project

The public consultation on plans to refurbish the former Nobber national school building as an artist's workspace is now open.

The school, a protected structure dating back to the 1930's, was in use until 1986 when the new school opened on the site to the rear and the now derelict property was purchased by Meath County Council from the Diocese of Meath in January of last year.

It has been vacant for several years and with boarded up windows and a general air of neglect, it had become an eyesore at a prominent location in the village.

The building was purchased by the Council under the Town and Village Acquisition Measure for the sum of €160,000 and funding of €150,000 was announced in January under the artist's workplace scheme to refurbish it as art studios. This will be match funded by Meath County Council.

The plans include the redevelopment of the disused national school as an artist’s workspace including the restoration of the building following best practice national guidelines.

The internal works proposed include the reinstatement of historic partitions to original line, modernisation of services, with new accessible and ambulant facilities, with tea station and lunch area.

The accommodation will consist of three studios plus one gallery reusing the former classrooms. Existing toilets will be refurbished and improved access will be provided.

Associated site development works including connections to existing drainage will be carried out. The report accompanying the part eight application notes: "The proposed change of use and associated works will bring a currently vacant building back into use by the local community. This is considered to be a positive intervention which will bring this prominent building of the Main Street of Nobber, back into public use."

The plans are available to view until 20th November at the Planning Department, Buvinda House, at Kells MD offices or online at https://planning.localgov.ie / under Part 8 reference: PT8MH466.

Submissions can be made until 4th December.

Separately another historic school building in the village has recently underwent a major conservation project. Nobber Technical School or 'Ceard Scoil' is a beautiful seven bay red brick building built in 1937.

Young people from the area gained their secondary school education there for fifty years until the 'new' school opened in 1987. Even after the new school opened, the old school was used for art classes.

In recent years the 'new' school was demolished to make way for the brand new state of the art school which opened in 2025 and over the past year, the Ceard Scoil has been conserved by LMETB and given a new lease of life.

The original sash windows have been refurbished and the building has been restored to its former glory and is used once more as classrooms. The area between the historic school and the new school building has been developed as a car park and bus set down area.