Crucial elements of Tipperary regeneration project are taking shape

As work on the provision of a new Clonmel Garda Station continues apace, progress is also being made on other elements of the Kickham Barracks Master Plan.

The new station, expected to be completed in late 2027,was always viewed as the catalyst for the development of the huge former Kickham Barracks site.

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While work is well underway since the turning of the sod on the project in December last by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, progress continues to be made on important projects on the remainder of the site.

A significant announcement is expected in May allowing the Tipperary Education and Training Board to proceed on to the next phase of the development of the College of the Future project.

Announced by former Education Minister Simon Harris in 2022, the project involves the creation of a college that will host both further and higher education ETB and Technological University of the Shannon Students.

“It will be the first college of its kind in the country. They are in the process of getting finance to move ahead with the planning stage and the Minister for Education is due to vsit. It is progress and very positive for the town,” said the Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English.

“Great progress is being made on the new Clonmel Garda Station. People will be pleased to know that the pile driving on the site taking place at the moment will stop in the next few weeks. In the meantime it is very positive to see progress being made on the college project,” said Cllr English.

Deputy Michael Murphy said the next phase — the proposed College of the Future — represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Clonmel and the wider South East region.

“I am working closely with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, to progress this landmark project. I have formally invited the Minister to visit the site, and I am pleased that he has accepted, with a visit now likely in May.

This will be an important opportunity to showcase the scale of what is being delivered and to ensure continued Government focus on bringing the project to the next stage.”

He added that the integration of further and higher education on a single campus will be transformative.
“The College of the Future will create a fully integrated tertiary campus, opening up new pathways for learners, supporting local businesses, and driving innovation and skills development across the region. It will also play a central role in the continued urban renewal of Clonmel.”

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“It is vital that we now see all phases of the Kickham Barracks redevelopment brought to fruition. The Garda HQ is a critical first step, but the full vision — including the College of the Future — is what will truly unlock the long-term economic, educational, and community potential of this site.”