A 2,500 m² special educational needs building at one of Munster's most historic schools — from contractor appointment to first students in a single year.
The greater Ennis area had a severe shortage of special educational needs places. The Department of Education and Youth's answer at St Flannan's College was an accelerated programme — and an accelerated programme is exactly what offsite manufacture is for. Lidan was appointed in September 2024; ground was broken in January 2025; modules began arriving from Roscommon that April; and the first students walked in for the September 2025 term.
Inside its 2,500 square metres are thirteen classrooms and a staff room, arranged around a purpose-built SEN wing: four SEN class bases, a practical activity room, a central activity room, a daily living skills room, a multi-sensory room and dedicated safe spaces — the specialist accommodation the greater Ennis area had long been short of. It was designed by Healy Partners Architects with Rogerson Reddan as project managers, and while it rose, the site also temporarily accommodated the 297 students of Knockanean National School.
With 87% of the building prefabricated offsite, architect Aran Healy noted the approach "enabled tighter quality control, reduced environmental impact, and faster on-site assembly." The press drew the wider conclusion: a template for rapid school builds across Ireland.
Coverage: The Irish Post · The Clare Echo · Rogerson Reddan project update.
