Bishop to reveal plans for education and training campus

PLANS for a multi-million euro education and training campus at the site of the former Farranferris College in Cork are set to be unveiled today by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley.

The seminary building at Farranferris, which closed as a post-primary school in June 2006, is a listed structure.

The boys’ secondary school, which was known as St Finbarr’s College, included RTÉ’s Bill O’Herlihy and Cork county hurler John Gardiner among its alumni.

In its final year it had just 73 pupils. Known as ‘Farna’, it was considered one of the finest “nurseries” of hurlers in the country.

Plans for the 22-acre site on the northside of Cork city have been keep under wraps pending their display to the public. They will go on display to the public this evening at Farranferris College between 5pm and 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the final details of the Knocknaheeny Regeneration Plan are to be released to the public later this week. The plan will reveal details of the regeneration of Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill on the northside of Cork city. A public meeting is likely to be held in Knocknaheeny in the next week to give residents the opportunity to voice their views on the plans.