Headfort School, first established in 1949 by Lord and Lady Headfort at Headfort House near Kells, County Meath, is Ireland's only remaining preparatory boarding school. It closed in March 2020 but a new operation under the same name opened in September of that year, with a new headmaster. In September 2021 a new Headmaster, Philip McCormick, was appointed. Location The school is located at Headfort House, outside the town of Kells, County Meath, some 75 km north west of Dublin. The central part of the house and the western wing was historically rented by the school's operating company from the charitable Headfort Trust; the eastern wing of the house forms a separate residence, Headfort Court. Grounds which once exceeded 1000 acres have been reduced by sale and development, and the school utilises 60 acres, the bulk of the remaining gardens and grounds. Headfort House Headfort House was built in the 1760s for Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective. It was designed by the Irish architect George Semple, using Ardbraccan limestone for its exterior construction. The interior was designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam and Headfort has the only intact Adam interior in Ireland, with three principal surviving rooms. Much of the original furniture is still in place. History Early history The school was founded by Lord and Lady Headfort, who planned to launch it in 1948, and did so in 1949, with full operations from 1950. The first headmaster, Romey Coles, served from before opening until 1950, when he was succeeded by David Wild. Other key posts included a senior master, matron, games master, riding master or mistress and heads for classics and music. Swimming was initially in the river on the estate, and until 1969 sports included rifle shooting. Lingard Goulding was principal from 1977 until 2001 and Dermot Dix from 2003 until 2018. The buildings were transferred to the Headfort Trust in 1996, and it made long-term arrangements with the school. In the mid-2000s, work was done to secure the Adams interiors, with the school operations continuing. Closure The school, which had had financial issues for some time, closed in 2020, with the senior master, Neville Wilkinson, commenting that COVID-19 was the "final nail in the coffin" and that "liquidation was the "best of the bad options." The operating company, Headfort School DAC, with about 25 staff, did not receive capitation grant funding, though some State support for