We have a long history of proven skills and knowhow which spans a half a century. We provide our students with useful knowledge and information they need to become great men and women of tomorrow. This is a story of how it all started:
1969 - Founded
St. Declan's was originally founded as the village school in 1969 by the local parish; Being then likened to “a garden in the wilderness” in the local press at the time.
1983 - Formally called St. Declan's Community college
In 1983, Under the initial stewardship of Donal Ó Faoláin the school grew and following the opening of a major extension in 1983 became known as St Declan’s Community College.
80's, 90's and early 00's - Expansion of operations
The dedication of the teachers and the leadership of Principal Sean Ahearne through the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s enhanced the reputation of the school necessitating the building of two further extensions in that time interval.
2008 - A time of expansion
Mr Eugene Power was appointed Principal in 2008. The Ethos of hard work and respect was carried on with the school numbers growing all the time.
2011 - Rapid Growth
The achievements of the pupils of St Declan’s on academic, sporting and cultural stages are well acknowledged in the locality to the extent that the school's enrolment increased to 716 pupils.
2018 - A bright future
The appointment of Ms. Grainne Walsh as principal in 2018 heralds a bright future ahead with a further extension to the school in the application stage.
2019 - Celebrating 50 years in Education.
In September 2019 St Declan’s Community College celebrated the fact that 50 years ago in 1969 students entered the school for the first time. The occasion was celebrated with a “Back to Kilmac” commemoration day. It was a fantastic day kicking off with a cycle on the Greenway starting at both ends of the catchment area and ending at the school gates. This was followed by a welcome ceremony where Minister John Halligan praised the school and its staff for reaching a standard of excellence that is reputational in the area. The large crowd was then treated to displays in the school where the many achievements of past and present student were on show while enjoying some light refreshments. The day was rounded off with music by “The Renegades” a band which is made up of past pupils of the school.
The school has come a long way from its modest beginnings in 1969 with just 68 pupils to a thriving centre of excellence offering a broad range of subjects that it has become today catering for over 780 pupils. We're sure that many of those people who established the school in 1969 could not in their wildest dreams have envisaged the comprehensive educational establishment that the school is today. They would surely be wondering” How did that small seed grow into such a mighty Oak?”