Dear Neighbour,
Welcome to the latest issue of our Neighbourhood Update for St Finian’s, Mullingar. JJ Rhatigan/ABM Joint venture have been appointed to deliver Project Nore which is a bundle of 7 schools located between Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare and Mullingar.
JJ Rhatigan have been appointed for the upgrading and refurbishment of the main school building (which is a protected structure).The construction of a two-storey western extension (West Block) to the main school building, a new two-storey block to the north (North Block) to accommodate technology classrooms and science laboratories which will be connected to the existing main building via a first-floor enclosed corridor bridge, a new three-storey block (East Block) to the east of the main building to accommodate the art classrooms, which will be connected to the existing main building via a four-storey enclosed stairway, a new changing block attached to the existing sports block, new detached single-storey substation and Maintenance store block to the west of the main all associated demolition works, Works to the school grounds will consist of the construction of a new all-weather pitch to the north, 6 no Ballcourts to the west , Landscaping terraced seating to the rear of the existing building and associated soft and hard landscaping throughout, The Development also consists of a new vehicular access from the old Longford road which will facilitate a new internal bus drop off and pick up area
The development will be over a 3-year period with works broken into 2 phases.
Phase 1 – consists of associated demolition works and construction of new North and East blocks, New Changing block, refurbishment of existing sports hall and church and construction of new all-weather pitch, Ballcourts, new vehicle access and all associated landscaping works to phase 1.
Phase 2 – consists of the refurbishment of the main building and construction of new west block and all associated landscaping works,
The school will remain active throughout the construction duration.
St Mary Special School which is located within St Finian’s will be delivered by ABM and separate newsletter will be issued.
UPDATE – September 2025
St. Finian’s has entered an exciting new chapter in its redevelopment project, with Phase 1 now complete and officially handed over. As the school year began, more than 900 students and 80 staff settled into the newly finished facilities, marking a significant step forward in creating a modern and dynamic learning environment.
While Phase 1 has been a transformative achievement, work on Phase 2 is already advancing at pace. Construction teams have completed the X2 building raft at the front (west side) of the school and carried out major demolition works to the top two floors of the existing building, including the removal of external render. The demolition of a two-storey dwelling block at the northwest corner of the site has also been successfully completed, clearing space for the next stage of development.
Externally, visible progress has been made across the site. Scaffolding has been erected, groundworks are actively underway at the rear elevation, and external render removal has been completed on the East Block.
Looking ahead, September will focus on the rising structure of the X2 building, essential roof works on the East Block, and internal demolition across the lower two floors. This will include the removal of walls, ceilings, floor finishes, and outdated mechanical and electrical systems. Additional groundworks will continue along the south side of the site, paving the way for scaffolding on the West Block. By the end of the month, a protective roof tent will also be installed on the East Block.
Together, these milestones reflect the steady progress toward delivering state-of-the-art facilities that will benefit the St. Finian’s community for generations to come.
School Liaison: A comprehensive separation has been implemented between the active construction areas and the operational school environment, prioritising both safety and continuity of learning. This arrangement will remain in place throughout the two-year duration of the project to ensure minimal disruption to daily school activities.
Construction Work Hours & Parking
Monday to Friday – as per planning.
Saturday – as per planning.
Provision for parking has been made within our compound for our construction workers and for all construction related traffic. The site access will be from the old Longford Road
Health, Safety & Environment
As the Main Contractor the health and safety of our workers and the public is a top priority for JJ Rhatigan/ABM. We have drafted a traffic management plan that will be implemented for the duration of the construction works to minimise the impact on the public and local residents. The site will be fully secured for the duration of the works and the vast majority of the works will be carried out within the confines of this area. It is important that children understand that construction sites are not a safe place to play, and they should not try to enter construction sites at any time. We would appreciate parents’ assistance in getting this point across to young children.
Construction sites are defined as high-risk work areas with those who work on site having specialised training and equipment to undertake their tasks. Once established on site JJ Rhatigan/ABM will be completing school visits / community initiatives to outline this.
JJ Rhatigan & Company is proud to support and cooperate with the Considerate Constructors Scheme to commit to care regarding the appearance of our site, respect the community in which we work, protect the environment by our methods of working and choice of design and materials, secure everyone’s safety and value our workforce. We strive to maintain the highest standards on all our projects.
Upcoming Works
JJ Rhatigan/ABM will be providing regular Neighbourhood Update to give our neighbours information on the works to be carried out.
We apologies in advance for any inconvenience the construction activities may cause and also to thank you for your patience and consideration. Please be advised that it is our policy to ensure that all efforts be made to ensure minimal disruption to the neighbourhood for the duration of the construction period.
PROJECT QUERIES
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us via the website.
