By Peter McGrath Jr
EXCITEMENT has spread through the Mourne community in the early part of 2024, with word that the long-awaited new build at St Louis Grammar School appears to have taken a significant step forward.
Having long fought and campaigned for a modern educational and sporting facility which is so badly needed in the Mourne area, the closure of St Columban’s and the subsequent expansion of St Louis have pushed the current facilities to the very limit of their capacity and capabilities.
Originally built to facilitate approximately 400 students, the school is now packed with close to twice that number and thus the news that new plans have been drawn up that show a bright, spacious and modern school has understandably thrilled people in the area.
Earlier this month a meeting led by Belfast-based Hamilton Architects (designers for the new school) shared the plans with the current school staff.
The proposal is for a modern building with up to date, fit for purpose sports facilities, canteen facilities and much more.
The new build will provide a 12000sq metre school (doubling the amount of teaching space available) and will be built closer to the road than the current school.
As this will involve building on the current sports pitches, it is understood a new all-weather 4G sports pitch would be built in the first phase of work on the new school, while latterly a full-size grass pitch, tennis courts and handball facilities would all be added.
One staff member said: “It’s incredible. St Louis has always been a huge part of the community but the new school, when it comes to fruition, will allow the school to resume its role at the heart of Mourne, with sports facilities that will be second to none, including tennis courts, two full-size GAA pitches and a massive sports hall that will not just benefit pupils but also the wider Mourne community.
“The addition of a theatre-like space can also be used to benefit and add to the rich cultural heritage that exists throughout Mourne also.”
Another staff member who has seen the plans described the proposed building as “very stylish, almost like an hotel”.
When contacted about the possibility of a new school building being within touching distance, school principal Mr Kevin Martin was unable to comment on the specifics of the proposal, but did reference a communication statement from the Education Authority from November 2023.
It stated: “On the 23 June 2020 the Minister of Education announced nine schools to advance in design under the major capital works programme. St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, was included in that announcement.”
“The Board of Governors and the Trustees are delighted that the major capital project has reached a significant milestone with Business Case approval for the project having been granted by the Department of Finance on 31 January 2023.
“The Department of Education has approved the feasibility study and the consultant team, led by Hamilton Architects, is developing their concept design proposals in consultation with project stakeholder groups, for a fully DE handbook compliant new build school for an enrolment of 860 pupils on the existing site at Newry Road, Kilkeel.
“Upcoming work will include a public consultation process and site investigation excavation in advance of a major planning application.”
While the proposals will still have to go through that major planning application this is, nonetheless, a big step in the right direction and offers the Mourne area the chance to boast a bright, modern new school that will ensure that while education in the area has always rivalled that available anywhere else, the educational facilities in the region can be as modern as those available anywhere else across County Down or beyond.
