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St. Joseph & St. Saran's is a Catholic Voluntary
Secondary School of almost 300 pupils under the patronage of
the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois and the Provincial Superior
of the Congregation of St. Joseph of Cluny. St. Joseph's has
been a girls' Secondary School since 1906, while St. Saran's
was founded in 1958 as a Diocesan Day Secondary School for boys.
These two schools formally amalgamated in 1972 to form the present
establishment. We are currently in the process of amalgamating
with Ferbane Community College to produce an enlarged and enhanced
Community School.
The West Offaly town of Ferbane is located on the N62 between
Athlone and Birr. The River Brosna flows through the town and
the Grand Canal is within walking distance. Points of interest
include the early Christian burial slabs at Gallen, fine examples
of bog oak sculpture in the Catholic church. The recently developed
Lough Boora Parklands (a Bórd na Móna project) includes a bird
sanctuary, nature walks and fishing facilities for able-bodied
and disabled anglers. The Offaly Way can be availed of by walkers
and hikers, and in the summertime, the town plays host to the
Ferbane Festival Fayre.
A Heritage Centre has opened within the last year, and already
the town has been treated to photographic, art and craft exhibitions.
Their latest project is an effort to collect local history and
folklore from the older generation in the community.
The area has a long association with the ESB and Bórd na Móna.
Other local businesses include the national award-winning Brosna
Press printing company, the Celtic Roots bog oak sculpting company
in nearby Ballinahown and a small industrial estate to promote
enterprise in the area. |
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