Warrenstown College

Warrenstown College was an Agricultural and Horticultural College run by the Salesian Fathers, in Drumree, County Meath. The order had received the lands in the will of Mrs Elizabeth Lynch, a descendant of the Warren family local to the area, and they started in 1923 training men for the agricultural industry. In 1958 the College developed a new site beside the old college. In 1968 specific programmes for the Horticultural Industry started at the College. In the 1980s the College offered a two-year course in commercial horticulture and awarded a senior certificate to successful candidates. Produce from the farm and glasshouses was sold through the market at Smithfield in Dublin. The Principle of the Horticultural college was Br James O'Hare who was later succeeded by Mr Harold Lawlor. The College offered a FETAC Vocational Certificate in Horticulture at three different levels (4, 5 and 6) with progression routes such as the National Diploma in Horticulture which validated by HETAC and run in conjunction with Teagasc and other Horticultural Colleges, was available at Warrenstown.^[1]

The College, had developed links with the nearby Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and developed a BSc in Horticulture.^[2]

The Agricultural College closed in 2001, and in 2008 the College of Horticultural announced it was to close in 2009.^[3] 200 students and staff were to be transferred to the Botanic Gardens (who also have a linkage with IT Blanchardstown) and other Teagasc facilities.^[4]

The 450 acre farm for the Agricultural College which closed in 2001 was sold in 2008 for €13.8million.^[5]

The College is now the site for Colaiste na bhfiann, an Irish Language College^[6] who purchased the College and 20acres from the Salesians, who moved their HQ to Monkstown, they still run Pallaskenry Agricultural College in Limerick.

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