Pupils from the Belleek area will be making a 60 mile round trip to access A Level education at the newly amalgamated St. Kevin’s College in Lisnaskea, according to Principal Gary Kelly.

St. Kevin’s College is the new name for the school which is an amalgamation of St. Comhghall’s College, Lisnaskea and St. Eugene’s College, Rosslea.

Read: New amalgamated school proposed for St. Comhghall's Lisnaskea site

During an event at the Lisnaskea post primary school on Friday, Mr. Kelly said that the St. Eugene’s pupils arriving this September will be joined by sixth form pupils from Derrylin, Irvinestown and Belleek. 

Mr. Kelly stated: “I know it can be daunting to leave your present school and come to a bigger school but next year there will also be students coming from St. Aidan’s, Derrylin; St. Mary’s, Brollagh and St. Mary’s, Irvinestown to access A Level education.”

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) first announced proposed educational changes in south east Fermanagh in May 2014. Last year, the Education Minister accepted a development proposal to close St. Eugene’s and St. Comhghall’s and to establish a new post-primary school in Lisnaskea on the St. Comhghall’s site.

The educational landscape in the county has changed dramatically in recent years with school closures and amalgamations. Three grammar schools and six non-selective post primary schools now offer A Level education in County Fermanagh.

Over the past year, teachers at the two schools have been collaborating, with St. Eugene’s staff teaching regularly in St. Comhghall’s and both sets of governors playing a full role on the interim Board of Governors for the new school. The two student councils also worked together to design a new school uniform.

Read: Both principals welcome new amalgamated school in Lisnaskea

On Friday, Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors, Canon Joseph Mullin announced that the new school will be called St. Kevin’s College. The school crest will feature the cross of Jesus Christ at its centre, with a triad symbolising home, school and church. Water symbolises Lough Erne and the River Finn which flows through Rosslea and a hill symbolises links to the Moat Ring – the inauguration seat of the ancient Maguire Chieftains – and the Moat Primary School. Below the tree of wisdom and the salmon of knowledge is the school ethos: Believe, Achieve, Succeed.

Addressing the gathering, Lisnaskea native, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness said the new school would not have been possible without “the generous collaboration and co-operation between the two schools.” 
He explained that the name St. Kevin’s College was chosen because “the Irish annals show that St. Kevin was a pupil of St. Eugene and a very close friend of St. Cole.” Monsignor McGuinness added: “When you consider that St. Kevin was the founder of the monastery at Glendalough which was considered the centre of learning for Irish saints and scholars, the name of this school is very appropriate indeed.”

Read: St Comghgall's and St Eugene's amalgamation proposal moves to public consultation

Outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster was determined to appear that it was business as usual as she took to the stage to unveil the St. Kevin’s uniform, which includes blue, burgundy and grey, the colours of the two former schools. She said: “Believe, Achieve, Succeed is an ethos I very firmly believe in. As a young girl in the Collegiate, you couldn’t help but wonder what the world would hold for you.”

With increased pupil numbers expected at St. Kevin’s College, Mr. Kelly stated: “We need significant investment in the Lisnaskea site.”