Warrenstown College was an Agricultural and Horticultural College run by the Salesian Fathers, in Drumree,

County Meath County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the sou ...

History

The Salesian order received the lands in Drumree under the will of Mrs Elizabeth Lynch, a descendant of the Warren family local to the area, and they started training men for the agricultural industry in 1923. In 1958 the College developed a new site beside the old college building, and in 1968, specific programmes for the horticultural industry were started at the College. In the 1980s, the College offered a two-year course in commercial horticulture and awarded a senior certificate to successful candidates. Produce from the farm and glasshouses was sold through the market at Smithfield in Dublin. The Principal of the Horticultural college was Br James O'Hare, succeeded by Mr Harold Lawlor. The College offered a

FETAC The Further Education and Training Awards Council ( ga, Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna) or FETAC was a statutory qualification-awarding body for further education in Ireland. It was established on 11 June 2001 under th ...

Vocational Certificate in Horticulture at three different levels (4, 5 and 6) with progression routes such as the National Diploma in Horticulture which validated by HETAC and run in conjunction with

Teagasc Teagasc (, meaning "Instruction") is the semi-state authority in the Republic of Ireland responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector. The official title of the body is Teagasc - The Agriculture ...

and other Horticultural Colleges, was available at Warrenstown. The College, had developed links with the nearby Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and developed a BSc in Horticulture.

Closure

The Agricultural College closed in 2001, and in 2008 the College of Horticultural announced it was to close in 2009. 200 students and staff were to be transferred to the Botanic Gardens (who also have a linkage with IT Blanchardstown) and other

facilities. The 450 acre farm was sold in 2008 for €13.8million.

Colaiste na bhFiann

The College is now the principal site for ''Colaiste na bhfiann'', an Irish Language CollegeColaiste na bhfiann Breathes new life into Warrenstown
Meath Chronicle, 21 July 2010. who purchased the College and 20acres from the Salesians, whose HQ is in Crumlin, Dublin 12 and who still run

Pallaskenry Agricultural College Pallaskenry Agricultural College is a centre of training for farmers, mechanics and salespeople for the Agricultural and Farm Machinery industries. It is located in Pallaskenry, County Limerick, Ireland, and is owned and managed by the Salesian F ...

in Limerick.

References

{{coord missing, County Meath Education in County Meath Further education colleges in the Republic of Ireland Agricultural universities and colleges in Ireland 1923 establishments in Ireland Educational institutions established in 1923 Educational institutions disestablished in 2009 2009 disestablishments in Ireland