A major public demonstration is taking place in Carlow Town this afternoon (Sunday) as staff and students fight to save the future of Carlow College, St. Patrick’s.
Campaigners are gathering at the front gates of the college at 3pm today to demand transparency over the shock decision to close the historic 244-year-old institution by 2028.
The protest follows mounting anger after it emerged that a planned merger with SETU will no longer protect humanities disciplines, putting 87 jobs at risk of being phased out.
Organisers are urging the local community to join them at the campus gates this afternoon to send a clear message to senior management, the diocese, and the government.
Steph Hanlon is a lecturer at the college, and she is appealing for people to get behind their campaign.
“We’re going to have a band. One of our past students, his band “Transmitter”, are going to be playing. So it’ll be a chance to celebrate the college, you know, celebrate everything that the college is to the community. Because Carlow College really is the beating heart of Carlow. We will continue doing things and we will continue raising this issue. And yeah, we just say to anyone who’s listening, appealing for your support.” said Steph.
