*An artist’s impression of the new 2,500 sqm development at St. Flannan’s College in Ennis, County Clare. Credit Healy Partners Architects.
PHASE ONE of a significant expansion of the historic St Flannan’s College campus in Ennis will be completed in time for the beginning of the next school semester in September enabling the temporary relocation of Knockanean National School.
The 2,500 sqm development comprises special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. The expansion of Munster’s largest school is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland.
In a unique cross-school partnership, the 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.
Approval has already been granted for the new development, which will consist of a two-storey building on the site of the existing primary school.
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. “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”.
He added, “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,” added Fr. McCormack. “The completion of these new facilities will be warmly welcomed by parents, teachers, and students alike.”
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.
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. “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. “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,” he said.
Mr. Healy noted that the project represents a significant milestone in the evolution of St. Flannan’s College. “Rooted in a deep respect for the past and driven by a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future, the new building is designed to enrich the educational experience of all its users – particularly those with additional needs. It stands as a testament to the power of design to reflect ethos, embrace innovation, and respect context,” he concluded.
