Closed Monaghan barracks to be education campus

THE ARMY barracks in Monaghan, which closed last year, is to be turned into a state-of-the art education campus under plans to be unveiled on Friday.

The barracks, on the outskirts of the town, closed in January 2009, after more than 32 years of Army service in the Border county.

It was the first of four barracks to close in a cost-saving measure announced in the budget. Lifford, Letterkenny and Longford also closed, amid protests from soldiers’ families and the local communities. Now the complex, which stretches over 20 acres, will soon be providing education at primary, post-primary and further education levels.

The plans include a 16-classroom all-Irish primary school for Gaelscoil Ultain, a 400-pupil all-Irish post primary school for Coláiste Oiriall and an institute of further education that will replace the existing PLC college in Monaghan.

The development, which will cost an estimated €20 million, will also have a theatre, a sports hall and ball courts, which will be shared by all education users on the campus. It will replace the inadequate accommodation and rented premises currently being used by these education providers in Monaghan.

Co Monaghan VEC’s plans for the site began to form as soon as news of the barracks closure emerged and the site was later acquired for just over €3 million.

In an innovative arrangement, the VEC, rather than the Department of Education, will manage the project so it will be completed much quicker than a school building would usually take.

The VEC is awaiting a decision on planning permission which is expected on or before January 7th. If the permission is granted as expected, the project will go to tender in early February.

According to the VEC plan, the campus will be ready for use in the school year starting September, 2012.

The plans and digital images for the building project will be unveiled by Minister for Education Mary Coughlan on Friday.

The Monaghan Military barracks, on the Armagh Road, was opened in December 1976 by then taoiseach Liam Cosgrave as dissident activity increased along the Border. The soldiers got off to a rocky start with some republican supporters who believed they should not be there.

Soldiers did not feel free to socialise in the town because of local resentment but that gradually changed. When the barracks closed, its platoon contained 30 locals.