Welcome to St. Nathy's College Online. Our newly revised Website offers some valuable information such as the range of subjects offered and, of course, our staff. This page is designed to give you an initial impression of the College and we encourage you to contact us if you have any questions, or if you simply want to find out more about the school. Please press the "Contact" button to the left for details. The news section now has several months' news at a time archived and includes our new Nathy's Y2K Appeal which we would ask you to have a look at. Note: We recommend a screen set to 16-bit colour or more and at least a version 4 browser (Netscape Navigator or MS Internet Explorer) with JavaScript enabled to view these pages. Rev. Dr. Martin Convey, President.   The present St. Nathy's College had its origin as a Classical School established in the Ballaghaderreen area during the first decade of the nineteenth century coinciding with the relaxation of the Penal Laws which allowed for Catholic Education. The first named headmaster was a Mr. O'Regan. Little concrete information relating to the early years survives but by 1867 it is recorded to have had 16 pupils on its register. By 1878 management of the school passed from the then principal, Mr. Carroll, to Fr. Edward Connington. This marked the beginning of an inextricably linked history with the Diocese of Achonry. In 1864 the diocese acquired the former residence of Baron J. Costello commonly known as Edmondstown House. This was, from 1893, to become the new home of what was called Edmondstown Park College. Rapidly growing numbers meant that the new school buildings quickly became overcrowded. The then bishop of the diocese, Dr. Lyster, acquired the Military Barracks in the town of Ballaghaderreen which lay unused. This was achieved in no small part by the financial assistance of Mr. Denis Broderick, a successful London Businessman and a native of the diocese. In January 1896 the school transferred to its new and final home. St. Nathy's College, named appropriately after the patron saint of the diocese of Achonry, had Fr. Michael Coleman as its first President in its new location. The campus expanded rapidly to cater for the needs of resident students. By 1935 its student numbers had grown to 215. Coinciding with the introduction of free education in 1967, the number of nonresident students began to increase along with its boarder population of 200. As time progressed, co-operation began between two other existing schools in Ballaghaderreen (The Vocational School and the Convent Secondary School) which facilitated a wide range of subjects to be taught. In 1995 all three schools amalgamated on the original St. Nathy's campus which had been specially extended to cater for over eight hundred pupils. For the first time girls became students of the College. In June 1996 the College ceased its boarding facilities due to a diminished demand. Today St. Nathy's College is one of the largest secondary schools in the West of Ireland offering a very broad curriculum to an increasing student population assisted by an academic staff of 55. It is hoped to continue to adapt and successfully serve the educational needs of Ballaghaderreen and its environs into a third millennium.