De Burgh sells former Aravon school to John Scottus school
MUSICIAN and Enniskerry resident Chris de Burgh has sold the former Aravon School in Rathmichael to another private school trust.
John Scottus School is to move from Donnybrook to Shankill shortly, saying that it has been searching for a more suitable campus for a number of years.
The John Scottus Education Trust has purchased the 14-acre campus of Old Conna House on Ferndale Road, Rathmichael.
Previously home to Aravon school, the site was purchased from musician Chris de Burgh, a long time patron to, and past pupil of, Aravon.
‘Mr de Burgh has been committed to the estate remaining in educational use and to this end he has been working closely with Emma and Arthur Godsil of Godsil Education to achieve this goal,’ said the school in a statement.
They said that the new building will have double the space of their current school buildings on Morehampton Road. It has over 25 classrooms, administration accommodation, and 14 acres of forest and parklands.
There is also an all weather pitch and an outdoor swimming pool on site.
‘ The possibility of being able to offer a John Scottus education in such a spacious, magnificent, idyllic campus is a dream come true,’ said principal of the secondary school Dr Declan Kelly. ‘In addition to our students receiving excellent academic, emotional and spiritual nourishment, this move will now give access to fantastic facilities and space. We have been searching for suitable campus to call home for a long time and now that we have found it, we can’t wait to put the school’s motto “Laetus Impraesens - Delight in the Present” over its door and open up to our students, parents and our new local community.’
Professor Brendan Tangney, Chair of the John Scottus Education Trust said ‘ This is a huge opportunity for John Scottus to expand and grow in the longer term. The site at Old Conna is incredible and will provide the resources, facilities and environment that will enrich the lives of our students and our wider community. We look forward to opening our doors to students and our new neighbours in the area.’
The secondary school will move in August while the primary school remains in Dublin 4. The existing Montessori school on the Old Conna site will remain in operation and a new junior school in Old Conna will receive Junior Infants from September 2017.