The History of Scoil Mhuire
Scoil Mhuire opened its doors for the first time on 1st July 1976. The Principal, Dan Coughlan and his assistant Siobhan Garvey moved, together with their 44 boys and girls from Kilmashogue NS, to join forces with 54 new pupils in the new 16 classroom school. Tadhg Mac Phaidin, who had been vice-principal in the nearby Ballyroan BNS joined the staff of the new school on 1st July.
The small 2-teacher Kilmashogue School was now deemed to be too small for the needs of the fast-growing suburban parish of Good Counsel, Ballyboden. The parish had been entrusted into the hands of the Augustinian Order by the Archbishop of Dublin when the huge, mostly rural, parish of Rathfarnham was divided into 5 smaller parishes. Fr. Leo O Sullivan OSA was appointed manager of the new school.
In the early years the children mostly came from the local housing estates namely, Palmer Park, Pearse Park, Whitechurch Cottages, Glendoher and Moyville. Maura Hynes joined the staff in October 1976 and as numbers began to grow Maura O Brien arrived in September 1978.
In July 1978, Dan Coughlan retired and Tadhg Mac Phaidin became Principal, a position he was to hold until his retirement in January 2002. Two more teachers, Joe Johnston and Tom Daly, joined the staff at this time (July 1978).Tom Daly taught 5th/6th combined, Joe Johnston taught 3rd/4th combined, Tadhg Mac Phaidin 2nd, Siobhan Garvey now the vice principal taught 1st, Maura Hynes taught Senior Infants and Maura O' Brien Junior Infants.
The numbers of children attending Scoil Mhuire increased enormously as more and more families moved into the newly-built Whitechurch Estate. By 1993 the number of children on roll reached 760 with 29 teachers. Because of the huge increase in numbers it was necessary to build a further 8 classrooms and this building was opened on 2nd Dec. 1985.
In January 2002, Tadhg Mac Phaidin retired and Owen Mc Loughlin was appointed Principal. The enrolment was now 270 with 21 teachers. In 2004 20 of the 250 pupils in Scoil Mhuire came from as far afield as Nigeria and Russia. There was a 20 strong teaching staff dedicated to creating a modern child-centred environment using Information and Communications Technology. The Arts, Sport, Reading and environmental studies featured strongly on the school’s agenda. Children with special needs were integrated fully into the school. Scoil Mhuire’s low pupil teacher ratio is particularly favourable to Infants. In order to give them the best possible start to school life, parental involvement is fostered through the school’s Home School Community Liaison Scheme. Presently Frank Roche is the Home School Community Teacher.
Fast forward to 2021 and there are 20 teachers and 9 Special needs Assistants on the staff. We are part of the School Completion Programme and included in the DEIS I band of schools (Delivering Equality in Schools). This brings many benefits to our children: programmes of Reading and Maths Recovery; First Steps Literacy programme; healthy food initiatives; on-site counselling and funding for projects,
We are now into our 13th year of housing 2 pre-school classes for children with autism. This is working out really well and is highly thought of as a model of good practice throughout the entire country.
Green Matters occupy a lot of our programmes with the receipt of our first green flag for litter reduction last year.
There are many highlights of the rhythm of our year including sacramental occasions, show time, Cor Fheile na Scoileanna, Hallelujah Concert, Running Club, football seasons, Book Fair, Friendship Week and Garda Band concert to name but a few. We pride ourselves in building a lovely atmosphere of learning around our school and welcome the many volunteers and students who help out throughout the year.
Scoil Mhuire has a vibrant team of over 40 adults working towards the educational enhancement of its pupils from all walks of life within Ireland.
O. Mc Loughlin
The small 2-teacher Kilmashogue School was now deemed to be too small for the needs of the fast-growing suburban parish of Good Counsel, Ballyboden. The parish had been entrusted into the hands of the Augustinian Order by the Archbishop of Dublin when the huge, mostly rural, parish of Rathfarnham was divided into 5 smaller parishes. Fr. Leo O Sullivan OSA was appointed manager of the new school.
In the early years the children mostly came from the local housing estates namely, Palmer Park, Pearse Park, Whitechurch Cottages, Glendoher and Moyville. Maura Hynes joined the staff in October 1976 and as numbers began to grow Maura O Brien arrived in September 1978.
In July 1978, Dan Coughlan retired and Tadhg Mac Phaidin became Principal, a position he was to hold until his retirement in January 2002. Two more teachers, Joe Johnston and Tom Daly, joined the staff at this time (July 1978).Tom Daly taught 5th/6th combined, Joe Johnston taught 3rd/4th combined, Tadhg Mac Phaidin 2nd, Siobhan Garvey now the vice principal taught 1st, Maura Hynes taught Senior Infants and Maura O' Brien Junior Infants.
The numbers of children attending Scoil Mhuire increased enormously as more and more families moved into the newly-built Whitechurch Estate. By 1993 the number of children on roll reached 760 with 29 teachers. Because of the huge increase in numbers it was necessary to build a further 8 classrooms and this building was opened on 2nd Dec. 1985.
In January 2002, Tadhg Mac Phaidin retired and Owen Mc Loughlin was appointed Principal. The enrolment was now 270 with 21 teachers. In 2004 20 of the 250 pupils in Scoil Mhuire came from as far afield as Nigeria and Russia. There was a 20 strong teaching staff dedicated to creating a modern child-centred environment using Information and Communications Technology. The Arts, Sport, Reading and environmental studies featured strongly on the school’s agenda. Children with special needs were integrated fully into the school. Scoil Mhuire’s low pupil teacher ratio is particularly favourable to Infants. In order to give them the best possible start to school life, parental involvement is fostered through the school’s Home School Community Liaison Scheme. Presently Frank Roche is the Home School Community Teacher.
Fast forward to 2021 and there are 20 teachers and 9 Special needs Assistants on the staff. We are part of the School Completion Programme and included in the DEIS I band of schools (Delivering Equality in Schools). This brings many benefits to our children: programmes of Reading and Maths Recovery; First Steps Literacy programme; healthy food initiatives; on-site counselling and funding for projects,
We are now into our 13th year of housing 2 pre-school classes for children with autism. This is working out really well and is highly thought of as a model of good practice throughout the entire country.
Green Matters occupy a lot of our programmes with the receipt of our first green flag for litter reduction last year.
There are many highlights of the rhythm of our year including sacramental occasions, show time, Cor Fheile na Scoileanna, Hallelujah Concert, Running Club, football seasons, Book Fair, Friendship Week and Garda Band concert to name but a few. We pride ourselves in building a lovely atmosphere of learning around our school and welcome the many volunteers and students who help out throughout the year.
Scoil Mhuire has a vibrant team of over 40 adults working towards the educational enhancement of its pupils from all walks of life within Ireland.
O. Mc Loughlin