St. Finian's College

St Finian's College is a secondary school, the diocesan school of the Diocese of Meath. It is located in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland, and is under the patronage of The Most Reverend Thomas Deenihan, Bishop of Meath. Rev. Dr. Paul Connell is its president. John McHale is the principal. Aisling Ryan and Emma Carey serve as deputy principals. History St Finian's College, Navan (1802-1908) St Finian's College was founded in Navan, County Meath as the Meath Diocesan College, by the Bishop of Meath, Patrick Joseph Plunkett. It opened on 2 May 1802. Fr. Eugene O’Reilly as its first president, serving until 1827. Fr. Patrick O'Connor became the second president, retiring due to ill health, succeeded by Fr. Nicholas Power who served until 1967. From 1867 until 1884 the future Australian Bishop Joseph Higgins served as president. Rev. Bernard Duff served as president from 1884 until 1886 and Fr. John Cassidy was appointed president and continued in office until 1891. From 1891 until 1903 Fr. Michael Dooley was president, Fr. Denis Flynn was the president for the final years the college was in Navan. The college moved to Mullingar, County Westmeath, at the beginning of the twentieth century. St Finian's College, Mullingar (1908-Today) The present college building built by J.J. O'Callaghan was opened in February 1905. With students from Navan moving to Mullingar in 1908 and officially opened by Bishop of Meath Lawrence Gaughran. From 1948 to 1982 there were always two Sisters from the Sisters of Mercy, in ministry in the college, one Sister was a registered nurse, who served as ‘Matron’ to the students with the other Sister was skilled in catering/housekeeping. In 1970, St Finian's was selected by the Irish Catholic hierarchy as the location for the music school (Schola Cantorum). Radharc made a documentary about the first graduates to complete the programme at the Schola Cantorum in 1975.