In March 2002, twenty-seven students and two teachers from the Borromaum High School, Salzburg, visited St. Fergal’s College where they were looked after by their host families. Children from these families then paid a visit to Austria in May of the same year. The Austrian Exchange Programme was by now well and truly up and running. This programme offers participating students a very rewarding experience where they learn about the culture, the family life and the school life of the host country. To date 121 Austrians and 50 Irish students have taken part in the programme.

Our students get to see the beautiful city of Salzburg, the famous Saltmines, The Eagle’s Nest, Ice Caves, Water Gardens, the Lake District and the Concentration Camp at Daccau; all of which helps our students to become true Europeans!

This trip usually takes place during the summer term each year.







During March 2007, St. Fergals College hosted the fifth annual exchange between the college and Borromaum High School, Salzburg. This exchange programme has its foundations in the 1200 year connection between Aghaboe Abbey and Salzburg. In 774 St. Fergal left Aghaboe and settled in Salzburg, where he built a cathedral.




In 1974, some 1200 years later, a group of pilgrims arrived in Aghaboe from Austria, anxious to retrace the footsteps of St. Fergal. In 2000 Mr. Pat Keeshan, teacher at St. Fergal's and member of the Aghaboe preservation society decided with the help of Transition Year to design a new plaque and crest to honour St. Fergal. Following this he decided to set up the exchange programme. The first set of students arrived in St. Fergal's in 2002.
This exchange has now become one of the highlights of the school year and is seen by both schools, as a culturally enriching experience for both students and teachers. This year saw the Austrian Students and teachers enjoy a wide variety of experiences organised once more by Pat Keeshan assisted by Ms. Brioda McCabe.




These included classes in History, Cooking, Hurling, Traditional Irish culture. Trips were made to Dowlings Pub Errill, Bunratty Castle and the St. Patricks Day Parade in Dublin followed by attendance at the club finals in Croke Park.
On Sunday all attended Mass in Clough where the Austrian students, conducted by teacher Muiris provided the music. Muiris is the conductor of the Austrian Choir which won a Gold medal in the Choir Olympics in China this year.



At the end of the week the group departed Rathdowney to continue their trip in Galway. During May 5th Year students from St. Fergal's made the return trip to Austria accompanied by Pat Keeshan and Brioda McCabe.
These teachers have put a huge amount of work into this exchange and sacrificed a lot of free time and are to be congratulated for their efforts.









A reception was held in St. Fergal’s College during April 2008 to celebrate the 6th annual exchange between Borromaeum High School, Salzburg and St. Fergal’s College. Initiated 6 years ago by Mr. Pat Keeshan, this exchange has become the highlight of the year for the students involved. The Austrian Co-Ordinator Sepp says “We love coming back every year – everybody is so kind and welcoming & he gave a special word of thanks to the host families”.

Entertainment on the night was provided by Camross Comhaltas directed by Catherine Conroy. This large group of young, talented musicians includes many who are pupils of St. Fergals. Martin Delaney also sang and his son, Martin, last years winner of the Leinster Fleadh Ceoil, showed he had inherited his fathers talent in the sean nós style. Students from the Lynam School of Dancing also gave a lively display of Jigs, Reels and Hornpipes, and Peter O’Malley performed a lovely piece of classical guitar. The Austrian students sang several folksongs.

St. Fergal’s students, accompanied by Ms. Brioda McCabe and Mr. Sean Conroy made the return trip in May 2008.