Coláiste Éanna

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Coláiste Eanna CBS is a Catholic Secondary School for boys which was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1967, to serve the needs of Ballyroan and adjacent parishes.It now has just over 300 pupils, and a staff of around 30. The school had suffered from sharply declining pupil numbers, thanks in large part to the opening of a new secondary school in neighbouring Knocklyon. The school is administered by a Board of Management. The Christian Brothers remain Trustees of the school. The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic lay order founded at Waterford, Ireland in 1802 by Blessed Edmund Rice.

After a decline in the numbers of new students enrolling in the school for a number of years, the trend finally reversed in the 2003-2004 school year. Numbers once again went up in 2004-2005. The number of students enrolling for 2006 is also up on previous figures.

Construction of new building comprising of specialist class rooms, administration offices and a separate sports hall was meant to begin in early 2000. This was set back due to a number of factors including the dwindling number of students. However construction of the new buildings began in early 2006, with construction due to be fully completed by Easter 2007. The new facilities are set to bring a a further increase to students enrolling in the school and secure the schools future.

The school was one of the founding schools in the India Immersion Project. Originally conceived by teachers Patrick McNamara and Barry McEntee in the 2000-2001 school year, the project involves 6 fifth-year students travelling to Calcutta, India on a charity mission. The students work on a variety of projects, from Mother Theresa’s Sisters Of Charity and their many hospitals throughout the city to schools for disadvantaged children.

The project has been highly successful. Total donations have exceeded over € 50,000 on a number of trips. The project is now operated on a biennial basis. In recent years students who have been involved in previous trips have been invited again to participate in the project, with some success.

The school currently offers a wide range of subject choices at Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate level in addition to a Transition Year programme.