Staff EmailHistory of St. Nathy’s College [3]
In the sixties the then
president, Fr. Thomas Fleming, built a recreation hall and an assemble
hall cum theatre. The project, designed by Brendan P. Geffers Architects
Dublin, was considered too costly and so was modified. A large
recreation hall with elaborate features such as dipped tiled ceiling,
copper roof and ornate masonry gable ends was built by James Faragher of
Tuam. The architects were John C. Thompson and Company, O’Connell St.
Limerick and the Consultant Engineers were Lyons, Boland and McArdle.
The hall was nearing completion when Fr. Fleming died unexpectedly in
March 1965 and it came into use for the first time as centres for the
Leaving and Intermediate Examinations in June 1965. The revisions and
modifications that were carried out during the construction phase caused
many delays and problems and inflated the costs.
Subsequently the hall was used for projecting films, as a visitor’s
reception area and for recreation with chess, tennis and recorded music.
The old recreation hall and boot room became a shoe locker room. The
lockers were heated and ventilated and intended for change of shoes and
for drying football togging gear. A washroom equipped with showers, foot
baths and hand basins was built adjacent to the old boot room. A new
exit to the yard and direct assess to the Recreation Hall was opened
through the end room in the old building which had functioned as a tuck
shop and classroom. Along the connecting corridor and along the
Recreation Hall gable an ambulatory was provided.
The next major influence on St. Nathy’s was the introduction of the Free
Post-Primary Education scheme which came into operation in September
1967. Gradually the number of day boys increased as fees were paid by
the Department of Education and also resulting from the provision of
free school transport for students who resided more than three miles
from the nearest post-primary school. The effect was that enrolment of
about 200 boarders in 1967 declined to 170 in 1976 while, in the same
period, day boys increased to 136, for a total of 306. All classrooms
were stretched to capacity and additional accommodation was sought.
The temporary solution was the provision of three prefabricated
classrooms. The first was located in the area between the Old College
and the Garden. In 1975 M. O’Carroll and Associates, Roscommon designed
a prefab unit of two classrooms and cloak room which were erected in the
Garden between the Oratory and the toilets. As well as an expansion in
student enrolment there was also an expansion in the curriculum and
steps were taken to have Mechanical Drawing and Woodwork taught for the
Intermediate Certificate. This also involved co-operation with Roscommon
V.E.C. and Ballaghaderreen Vocational School. An arrangement was made
whereby the College and the Vocational School shared their specialist
teachers as both schools expanded their curriculum range of available
subjects. From 1964 such co-operation had enabled Agricultural Science
to be taught in the College.
The downturn in Agricultural prices and income in the late sixties,
together with increasing burdens of farm management and the outstanding
debt on the Recreation Hall, led to the sale of most of the College
farmland and the dairy herd about 1972. Fr. Charles Joseph Doherty also
carried out considerable repairs and refurbishment of the Military
Barracks. New windows were fitted, the building was re-roofed, the walls
were stripped of ivy and replastered. The contractor was Eugene Madden.
The kitchen was modernised under the direction of Sr. Maureen Lally.
The need for further expansion was recognised and planning was initiated
and advanced by three presidents Fr. Thomas Flynn, Fr. Robert Flynn and
Fr. James Colleran who took the New Building project to the contract
signing stage in May 1982. Fr. Andrew Johnston (the incoming president)
took responsibility for the construction and, sixteen months later, saw
the completion of two new science laboratories, a Drawing Room, Woodwork
Room, Biology Demonstration Room, seven classrooms, office, staff room,
social areas and toilets. The architects were Jeffers, Kearns and
Associates, Galway. Brian Reilly & Associates were the quantity
surveyors. Kevin Madden, Galway was the consultant for mechanical and
electrical services and the contractors were Mulhers Brothers,
Crossmolina.
