Farm college is shut down

The Rockwell Agricultural College in Co Tipperary has closed because not enough students want to take its one-year agricultural…

The Rockwell Agricultural College in Co Tipperary has closed because not enough students want to take its one-year agricultural course.

Yesterday, Father Bernard Frawley, principal of the Cashel college, said the capacity for the post-leaving cert course had been in the region of 100 or more, but that number had been dropping over recent years.

In June, only 63 students completed the course.

"It is a national trend," said Father Frawley. "The reason is a downturn in farming and the numbers of young people who want to do agricultural studies."