Coláiste Éinde has been added to the City Council’s record of protected structures, despite strong objections from the Galway Diocesan Office to the entire building being considered as of architectural merit.
Forty-six structures were put forward to be included in the draft City Development Plan 2017-2023, with just 16 submissions received on these.
A report circulated to councillors stated that the school first opened in 1928 in Furbo, and moved to its present location in 1937. It was a preparatory college for students aspiring to become national school teachers. Part of its ethos was to promote the Irish language, and it operated as an Irish-speaking boarding college with a wide student catchment.
“The limestone five-bay entrance porch has semi-circular arched openings, the centre bay being the entrance lobby,” it stated.
“Above the open porch there are five flat-arched openings to the first floor balcony. The piers between have limestone caps and above a decorative cornice the three-bay plastered attic storey is flanked by limestone parapets, and topped by a projecting cap stone.”
The appraisal at the end of the document recommended that the building be included in the register of protected structures:
“This early 20th century school building represents educational design of the period and is of architectural, social and historical interest.
“While there appears to be some new buildings of a later period on the site and in the courtyards, and the window frames have been changed, the arrangements and character of the school has substantially unchanged since construction. The large scale of the building is comparatively unusual for an educational building in the West of Ireland.”
However, the Galway Diocesan Office had made a submission to the draft Development Plan objecting to the inclusion of Coláiste Éinde in the register of protected structures (RPS).
“The building is in poor condition, and inclusion in the RPS would incur greater costs to rehabilitate the building,” it stated.
While agreeing that certain aspects were of merit, many Councillors did not see the value of preserving the structure as a whole.
“There is no doubt that it has historical value, being associated with Padraig Pearse, but large parts are more modern,” remarked Cllr Pearce Flannery.
Cllr Cathal Ó Conchuir agreed, adding that aspects, such as the dressing rooms (built in the last 20-30 years), were not worth keeping. He suggested that anything built prior to 1980 should be considered as valuable, rather than taking the building as a whole.
Senior Planner, Helen Coleman told members: “The Minister has made these recommendations, based on detailed surveys under the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH).
“Cathal Crimmins’ (architect and historic building consultant) appraisals were carried out before we brought these recommendations to yourselves, so that we have a clear, up-to-date idea on the value of these.
“For the most part, his advice mirrors the NIAH in terms of the architectural, social, and historical value of these structures. The Minister felt these were of considerable value to the heritage of the city.”
Mr Crimmins agreed that there were parts of the building not worth preserving, but he described the main building as “a very interesting complex” and one that was “very unusual for the West of Ireland.”
Cllr Ó Conchuir, who is a teacher in a different city secondary school, felt that the applicant’s fears were unjustified.
“When Coláiste Íognaid was being developed, there was no problem, even though it was protected,” he said.
Cllr Ollie Crowe proposed that the submission made by The Galway Diocesan Office be adopted, while Cllr Colette Connolly proposed that the Chief Executive’s recommendations – in keeping with those of the Minister – be accepted. The latter motion was passed by 11 votes to 7.
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