St. Finian's College - Press Releases

May 23rd 2002

This year St. Finian's College marks a milestone in its history in that it is celebrating 200 years as a boarding and day school in the Diocese of Meath. Over recent years many changes have taken place in the structure of boarding and schools like St. Finian's have constantly been reviewing their situation. A Diocesan College like St. Finian's has also to take account of the declining availability of priests to manage a boarding school. This has become a particular problem in the diocese of Meath, given the very rapid growth of population in most parts of the diocese. To employ non-clerical staff would put the fee structure in St. Finian's beyond the reach of most parents and would change its traditional ethos. Over recent years, the diocese has become directly involved in an increasing number of post primary schools, making additional demands on its resources and commitments.

Accordingly, it has been decided that September 2002 will be the last occasion that St. Finian's will be accepting first year boarders. This will mean that boarding will end in St. Finian's in June 2007. St. Finian's, however, will continue to serve Mullingar and the surrounding communities as a second level school. The future development proposal is that St. Finian's will change its status to that of a co-educational Voluntary Secondary School. It is thus envisaged that St. Finian's will accept first year girls for enrolment beginning in September 2003. St. Finian's is looking forward to the challenges ahead, and to continuing its long tradition of educational service in Mullingar and in the diocese of Meath.