Bishop Denis Kelly was responsible for bringing technical education to Skibbereen, the first Cork town to make this form of education available. He introduced the idea at a town council meeting on July 17th 1902. A Vocational Education Committee was formed in order to advance those ideas. Because there were so many tradesmen in Skibbereen, Bishop Kelly felt that vocational education should begin there. With the help of state grants and local donations the scheme got underway.

Timiri (travelling teachers) came to Skibbereen and began teaching afternoon classes in woodwork and building construction. After a while, classes in technical drawing and metalwork became available in the building where Ard Scoil Fhactna is now.

In 1925 the Burke family donated a site on North Street to the Vocational Committee and the first 'Ceardscoil' or Technical School opened in September 1926. There were classes in Gaeilge, English and Maths as well as the aforementioned technical subjects. Within a few years Business and Home Economics were also made available for girls.

From 1930 onwards night classes also became a feature of the school, with classes in Irish becoming very popular. Around 1954, the Committee purchased a garden beside the school. (where the church car park is now) and classes in Agricultural Science began. The demand for technical education was so great that the committee purchased the building beside the church in 1959.

When free education, free travel and book schemes were introduced in Ireland, it heralded a new era for vocational education in Skibbereen. The pupil numbers doubled when the school began preparing people for the Intermediate Certificate and the Leaving Certificate. In 1967, a Secretarial course for post leaving certificate students was introduced. Soon after, it became apparent that a new building would be needed to cater for all the students.

A Greenfield site was purchased and in 1984 Rossa College was opened.
This co-educational school prepares students for both Junior and Leaving Certificate subjects at all levels. A thriving Post Leaving Certificate programme is now in existence and provides six full-time day courses. The local adult community is well served with a range of interesting and challenging night classes which promote the concept of continuous lifelong learning.