Longford Schools make a historic move in decision to amalgamate

The principals of Longford secondary schools Meán Scoil Mhuire and Saint Mel’s College have described their amalgamation on a state-of-the-art campus called Coláiste Mel agus Mhuire as 'hugely exciting'.

The announcement was made on Monday that a decision has been taken to open a new school to cater for in excess of 1,200 pupils following talks involving stakeholders.

Malachy Flanagan, the principal of Saint Mel's College described it as "hugely exciting and fantastic news for the town of Longford" and in particular for the students.

"It's going to be transformational in terms of their experience of post primary school. An amalgamation of two very strong schools," he added.

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Mr Flanagan stated the amalgamation will open up an array of opportunities in terms of expanding the curriculum and facilities and giving students more subject choice on one campus.

"It also has to be hugely exciting for parents, for families that their son and daughter can now travel on the one bus or the same car to the same campus," he said. "It will revolutionalise Longford, a town that badly needs and has been deserving of huge investment and it will give a lift to the town and the county to have a state-of-the-art campus."

Coláiste Mel agus Mhuire will be complted once extensive construction and refurbishment is completed on the existing site of Saint Mel's College.

Mr Flanagan said a design team will be appointed and the Department of Education have given a commitment for the major investment and "it will also push on and bring to fruition [their] '1965 building project".

A consultation process on the future of post-primary Catholic Education in Longford town took place between December 2022 and May 2023.

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It is understood an estimated opening date of September 2027 is the target.

In a statement from the Irish Catholic Bishop's Conference the patrons of Meán Scoil Mhuire and Saint Mel’s College, CEIST and the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, said: “Following its conclusion, the views of Parents, Students, Boards of Management and Staff of both post-primary schools and the views of Parents of local primary school students, were reflected on and carefully considered both by the Patrons of both secondary schools and their respective Boards of Management."

Meanwhile, Siobhán Cullen, the principal of Meán Scoil Mhuire said there had been a lot of careful planning and consideration.

"It will ensure the future of Catholic education in "Longford for the boys and girls and that we on their behalf can secure the capital investment to provide up to date facilities for the students of both schools," she said. "It is a very important development in the educational landscape of Longford. The aims are to strengthen the educational experience for all students enhancing the resources that are already there while fostering a supportive learning environment for the girls and boys."

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Eileen Donohoe, the chair of the board of management of Meán Scoil Mhuire and a principal and teacher for 47 years in a co-ed school, described the move as a 'fantastic development'.

"I'm a firm believer in co-ed and it's a natural follow on from the make up of the family," she added.