St Ronan’s College in Lurgan have appointed a contractor for the building of their new school, with work expected to begin on site early next year.
The contract, worth in excess of £40 million, has been awarded to Glasgiven Contracts in Annalong, Newry.
It is hoped work on the school, which will be situated on the former St Michael’s site at Cornakinnegar Road, will be completed by 2024.
At present, St Ronan’s is operating across two sites.
Gerry Lundy, speaking on behalf of the trustees, described it as a “very significant milestone in the delivery of the long awaited and much needed new school buildings”.
He said the signing of the contract will allow Glasgiven to “immediately begin work on the final design stage and then start on site early in the new year”.
“A pre-contract meeting was held with Glasgiven in St Ronan’s College on October 18, 2022. The chair of governors and the principal and vice-principal also held a meeting with Glasgiven to share their vision for the college and their requirements and plans for the new school buildings and facilities,” he said.
Principal Fiona Kane, third from left, with Gerry Lundy of the trustees, far right, and representatives of McAdam Design, St Ronan’s College and Glasgiven Contracts.
Principal Fiona Kane said it was “absolutely fantastic news” for St Ronan’s College and the local community, and a major step in the journey towards a single site campus.
She said: “We look forward to working with our project board, the Department of Education, the Education Authority, our governors and Glasgiven Contracts Ltd to achieve the school of our dreams.
“Sincere thanks to everyone who has helped us reach this critical stage today – we are simply over the moon. Thank you also to everyone in our community for believing in us and supporting us along the way.
“We continue to rely on everyone to help us as a school community reach our final destination for the good of all the children and young people in our care.”
St Ronan’s College, a non-selective, co-educational school, has around 1,750 pupils and is the second biggest post primary school in Northern Ireland, after Methodist College, Belfast.
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