A 14-year wait for a new building is almost at an end for Letterkenny’s Scoil Cholmcille.

A recent tender document revealed that the school has reached the stage of purchasing furniture for the new build. Yesterday principal Pauric Cannon revealed just how close it is to completion.

“We have a new sports hall which is nearly completed, we are just waiting for the flooring to be placed. Once that is completed two classes will be able to do PE simultaneously. It will be a fantastic asset because our school has a great reputation in terms of its achievements in athletics.”

Also nearing completion are eight new classrooms. They will be linked to the existing building and are expected to be ready shortly after Halloween. As well as the classrooms, 12 support rooms and a new staff room are being developed.

Once those are available for use the classes in the existing building will move into the new extension.

With that done the old building which first opened in 1974 will close for a complete overhaul.

The hope is that it will be ready for occupation again by Easter 2022. Along with its redevelopment two prefab classrooms will be removed and the grounds refurbished for four new play areas and 45 car parking spaces for staff.

The progress marks the end of a journey for Scoil Cholmcille that began well over a decade ago.

Over the years the project has been hampered by delays including Government shake-ups, the recession, changes to building legislation and more recently Covid-19.

But intervention by Joe McHugh during his time as Education Minister proved pivotal in getting it over the line, according to Pauric Cannon. He also praised the efforts of the construction firm carrying out the work and Letterkenny architects MH Associates.

“The builders have been very efficient and co-operative and having someone as local as MH Associates on board has been a huge help.

“It’s fantastic because this is the end of a 14 year effort to try and get this building off the ground.

“We have had numerous setbacks with ministers who promised and did not deliver, changes in legislation, the recession. Thankfully last August we got permission with our own Joe McHugh who was instrumental in enabling us to get to site.”

Mr Cannon added that he never lost faith in seeing the new building and associated facilities finished.

“I was always hopeful because I felt we were adhering to all we were being asked to do. I never gave up that one day that it would happen and that day came last year when we got the green light from Joe McHugh.”