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06 Sept 2025

'Very excited' Dunamase College principal on their new school plan

Laois Irish English secondary school seeks planning for 1,000 pupil campus

'Very excited' Dunamase College principal on their new school plan

Minister for Education Norma Foley back in 2022 with public representatives and staff at the site earmarked for the new Dunamase College, now at planning application stage.

Reporter:

Lynda Kiernan

13 Jul 2024 9:22 PM

Email:

lynda.kiernan@leinsterexpress.ie

The principal of a Laois Irish / English secondary school has described the excitement in her school as they finally reached planning application stage this week. 

Dunamase College/Coláiste Dhún Másc in Portlaoise, under the patronage of Laois Offaly Education and Training Board, is seeking planning permission from Laois County Council to construct its first permanent building.

Principal Dympna Kelly spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"Our school community is very excited that the new school has moved to the planning stage. We are delighted with the plans and we look forward to bringing our culture of educational excellence with us as we move into one of the most modern and up to date schools in the county.
"The building design is centred around the students, with large inside and outside assembly areas, state of the art teaching and learning facilities, along with a sports hall, fitness suite, courts and a hockey pitch. The inclusion of a multi media room was important to us to continue our focus on delivering a digital education to the students, so that they will be prepared to deal with the world beyond second level education. 
"An exciting aspect of the plans for us is that there is an area of the school designated to the Aonad students, those students who choose to complete their education through the medium of Irish.  As our numbers have grown rapidly, this has increased capacity pressures at our current campus, the prospect of additional school places means that we will be in a position to offer more places to   students who want to experience a Dunamase College/Coláiste Dhún Másc education.
"I would like to thank all those involved in the design, MCOH Architects, the staff of Laois and Offaly Educational and Training Board (LOETB) in particular, the CEO Joe Cunningham, Director of schools Linda Tynan and Director of Organisation Support and Development Marie Bracken," she said.
The plans will shortly go on public display by Laois County Council planners.  The advance to planning stage has been welcomed by Laois TDs Brian Stanley and Sean Fleming, both of whom pledge to do all in their power to keep momentum going. 

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