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Clonfert College

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Coordinates: 53°19′23″N 8°14′50″W / 53.323169°N 8.247158°W / 53.323169; -8.247158
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Clonfert College
Coláiste Chluain Fearta
Location
Map
Ballinasloe, County Galway

Ireland
Coordinates53°19′23″N 8°14′50″W / 53.323169°N 8.247158°W / 53.323169; -8.247158
Information
TypeVoluntary secondary school
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1 September 2025
PrincipalPauric Hanlon
PatronMichael Duignan
CampusesGarbally Campus
Mackney Campus
Colour(s)   
TrusteeshipBishop of Clonfert
Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust
Websitewww.clonfertcollege.ie

Clonfert College (Irish: Coláiste Chluain Fearta)[1] is an Irish Catholic co-educational secondary school situated in Ballinasloe, County Galway. It is set to open in September 2025 as a result of the amalgamation of Garbally College and Ardscoil Mhuire and will operate between two campuses in Garbally Park, the former seat of the Earl of Clancarty, and Mackney respectively.[2] It is under the dual trusteeship of the Bishop of Clonfert and Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust (CEIST).[3]

History

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In early 2023, a consultation process began for Garbally College and Ardscoil Mhuire regarding the future of Catholic secondary school provision within Ballinasloe, conducted by their patrons the Diocese of Clonfert and the Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust (CEIST).[4][5] In October 2023, it was announced that the two schools would be amalgamated to form a new co-educational school which would open in September 2025.[6][7] Planning for the amalgamation began the following month with the forming of a steering committee comprising representatives of the schools' patrons, staff and parents.[8]

Clonfert College was announced as the name of the school in March 2024, reflecting the historical and religious origins of the two former schools,[9][10] with Pauric Hanlon, then-principal of Ardscoil Mhuire,[11] appointed principal of the school in June 2024.[12] Three deputy principals were appointed in early 2025.[13][14]

Prior to amalgamation, Garbally College and Ardscoil Mhuire had collaborated on co-educational initiatives, including joint musical theatre productions[15][16] and the sharing of co-curricular resources at Transition Year and senior cycle levels.[17][18]

A multimillion-euro development was sanctioned by the Department of Education to further develop facilities on the school's two campuses, which would provide additional technology, art and special education suites and sanitary space.[19] In March 2025, it was announced that Clonfert College had been granted DEIS status and that six special education classrooms and four STEM classrooms would be delivered.[20]

In May 2025, a group of Garbally College alumni launched a campaign to preserve Garbally College's legacy in the amalgamated school's name, calling for the adoption of the name 'Clonfert College at Garbally Park' and for the school's sports teams to continue playing under the name 'Garbally'.[21][22] A survey was conducted to assess support for the petition, with 88% of respondents backing to retain the Garbally name,[23] including former Ireland rugby captain Ciaran Fitzgerald, ex-rugby international Noel Mannion, Connacht Rugby scrum-half Colm Reilly, a son of former Garbally College principal Stephen Reilly, Galway hurlers Iggy Clarke, Seán Silke, Conor Hayes, Michael Duignan and Damien Joyce.[24][25][26] In June 2025, the Board of Management of Clonfert College confirmed in a statement that Garbally would not be retained, stating it would "elevate" one founding school over the other.[27] The group said it was "deeply disappointed" by the decision and that it was a "missed opportunity".[28][29]

Curriculum

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The school offers both the Junior and Leaving Certificate cycles, as well as Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied.[30][31] Clonfert College offers all the mandatory subjects, along with business studies, home economics, technical graphics, music, modern foreign languages and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.[32][33]

References

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  1. ^ Ní Neachtain, Sinéad (14 May 2025). "Iar-scoiláirí de chuid Choláiste Garbhaile i mBéal Átha na Slua ag iarraidh go gcoinneofar 'Garbally' i dteideal nua na scoile nuair a chomhnascfar le scoil eile san Fhómhar í." www.facebook.com (in Irish). Nuacht TG4. Event occurs at 0:20. Retrieved 13 June 2025 – via Facebook. Beidh ainm nua ar an scoil, Coláiste Chluain Fearta nó Clonfert College
  2. ^ "Exciting New Plans for Second Level Education in Ballinasloe Diocese of Clonfert and CEIST Educational Trust". Diocese of Clonfert. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Mission Statement and Ethos – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  4. ^ Cusack, Adrian (9 February 2023). "Ballinasloe's secondary schools to be consulted on whether to retain Catholic ethos". Westmeath Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Merger Talks for Secondary Schools" (PDF). Ballinasloe Life. Vol. 13, no. 1. April 2023. p. 30. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Two secondary schools to amalgamate in Ballinasloe". Westmeath Independent. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  7. ^ Hogarty, Leah (11 October 2023). "Two Ballinasloe secondary schools to amalgamate by September 2025". Galway Bay FM. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Press Release – Post Primary Schools Amalgamation". www.garballycollege.com. Garbally College. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Name of amalgamated Ballinasloe secondary schools announced". Westmeath Independent. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Exciting New Developments for Catholic Secondary Education in Ballinasloe". Diocese of Clonfert. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Principal's Message – Ardscoil Mhuire". ardscoilmhuire.com. 16 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  12. ^ "🚨Announcement🚨The interim Board of Management have announced that Mr Pauric Hanlon has been appointed as principal of Clonfert College". Facebook. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025 – via facebook.com.
  13. ^ "We are delighted to announce that the following have been appointed as Deputy Principals in Clonfert College: Ms Lilian Hynes, Ms Caroline Jackson and Ms Collette Quinn. This is another milestone on the road to amalgamation. Congratulations to these very worthy candidates". Facebook. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025 – via facebook.com.
  14. ^ "School Staff – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  15. ^ "TY Musical Ardscoil Mhuire - Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". ballinasloe.ie. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2025. Ardscoil Mhuire, in association with Garbally College
  16. ^ "Blood Brothers to be staged by Garbally and Ard Scoil Mhuire". ballinasloe.ie. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Co-Curricular Resource Sharing". garballycollege.com. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Ardscoil Mhuire and Garbally College Collaboration" (PDF). Ballinasloe Life. Vol. 11, no. 4. October 2021. p. 21. Retrieved 13 June 2025. The Transition Year students in both our local secondary schools are enjoying a series of modules delivered as coeducational groups. Each week TY students from Ardscoil Mhuire and Garbally College join forces to complete modules
  19. ^ "Facilities – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025. A multimillion-euro development has been sanctioned by the Department of Education to further develop the facilities on our campus. This will provide an additional Technology Suite, Art Room, Special Education Suite and Classrooms as well as additional sanitary and communal space.
  20. ^ "Local Councillor says DEIS status will bring top level resources for Clonfert College". Connacht Tribune. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Campaign urges amalgamated Ballinasloe schools to retain Garbally name". Galway Bay FM. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Garbally group of past pupils campaigns on name change". Westmeath Independent. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Spirit of Garbally Campaign Aims to Safeguard Century of Sporting Heritage". www.sportforbusiness.com. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025. 88% of respondents backed retaining the Garbally name for sports teams in the new school.
  24. ^ Murray, Joseph (9 May 2025). "Irish sports stars rally behind campaign for new amalgamated Galway school to retain Garbally name". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  25. ^ "Garbally old boys aim to keep the school spirit alive". Connacht Tribune. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  26. ^ Thornley, Gerry (23 May 2025). "Spirit of Garbally alive in campaign to incorporate name in new amalgamated school". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Statement from the Board of Management". www.clonfertcollege.ie. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  28. ^ Murray, Joseph (10 June 2025). "Campaigners in Galway 'deeply disappointed' over failed plans to retain historic Garbally school name". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Clonfert College decision not to retain the 'Garbally' name branded a missed opportunity". Galway Bay FM. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Transition Year – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Leaving Certificate Applied – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  32. ^ "Junior Cycle – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Senior Cycle – Clonfert College". www.clonfertcollege.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
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