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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Principal Deirdre Ui Liathain and Deputy Principal Sean O'hEanaigh outside the new school. PIC: Arthur Kinahan
A new era dawns in Dundalk this week as the newest school in the State opens its doors.
“It’s a huge source of pride,” said LMETB (Louth Meath Education Training Board) Chairperson Tomás Sharkey, speaking to The Democrat about the opening of Coláiste Lú and Coláiste Chu Chulainn at the Marshes in Dundalk.
“There’s huge relief on parents, on staff and huge relief from my point of view, because I'm chairperson of LMETB.
Pic: LMETB Chairperson Tomás Sharkey
“There's huge relief because people have been waiting so long. I want to ask all the families and the whole community in Dundalk and the greater Dundalk area, to put their trust in the amazing team of young, vibrant and energetic teachers.”
The school which will cater for approximately 1100 pupils, has been delivered through a partnership approach according to Mr Sharkey.
“Louth County Council had a hand in the delivering of the school and it was the old County Louth VEC that had the initial idea”.
“The idea started while I was in Chapel Street [VEC] when we decided that we wanted to open a Gaelcholáiste in Dundalk, and that started off Coláiste Lú”, says Sharkey.
“Since then Coláiste Lú has grown into a bigger organisation, including Coláiste Chú Chulainn.”
With students in Coláiste Lú having sat their Leaving Certificate this year, the LMETB chairman sees the effect the great staff and their dedication is having, on how people in Dundalk see the school.
“More and more families are putting their trust in the fantastic staff and the students are really blossoming from it”, he says.
“The new school is the next step in the process.
“The opening of the new school means that education in Dundalk and the greater area has now been future proofed”, says Sharkey.
“We now have the most up to date, the newest school in the State.
“Because, although we have the keys handed over for 50% of the building, in under a couple of months we'll have the other 50% of the building handed over to us as well.
“So that means we have the newest school building in the country and in a couple of months we will have the newest again”, he said.
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