Against all odds the Cistercian College Roscrea has started the new school year.
The iconic Tipperary boarding school is now in its 112th year – which didn’t seem likely to happen last February when there was a shock announcement that it was closing down over the summer due to falling numbers.
But there was a strong campaign by parents and past students to keep it open and numbers are up this term with the introduction of 5-day and day-boarding options.
It’s expected that overall student numbers will be close to 180 when the last of the overseas student arrive this week, with up to 30 new first-years.
CCR has also maintained its position in the top 20 schools in the country – coming in at 17 in the latest list from the Sunday Times.
Director of Admissions Seamus Hennessy says it shows how important it was to keep this iconic school open.
