[3] According to The Irish Times, An Cosán "was established by Ann Louise Gilligan and Katherine Zappone with the intention of bringing valuable community-based education to the Dublin suburb.
"[4] Speaking at an event for International Women's Day in 2010, then Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin paid tribute to the work done by the people in An Cosan.
"[6] An Cosán also runs Fledglings, which operates eight preschools around the country – mostly in disadvantaged areas – which provide education and care to more than 250 children.
[7] A notable alumnae of An Cosán is Senator Lynn Ruane, former president of Trinity College Students' Union,[8][9] who at age 16, was a participant on the first Young Women's Programme;[10] Ruane has said that: "An Cosán had its finger on the pulse and responded to a surge of teenage pregnancy in the west Tallaght area, taking into account of what was needed to support young mothers and their participation.
Key in that was Rainbow House where my daughter, Jordanne, started out the early years in her life and I began to heal, learn and believe again.