Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar

Saint Mary's College (Irish: Coláiste Mhuire) is a voluntary secondary school located in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. It officially opened its doors to students in October 1856, and is the oldest post-primary school in the town. It is based partly in the Hevey Institute, and elsewhere in extensions which were built in the 1970s and early 2000s. The school is a member of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, which is a network of Catholic secondary schools in Ireland. It is primarily a boys' school, and has been since the day it opened, however, the repeat Leaving Certificate class is co-educational. The school is located adjacent to Cathedral of Christ the King, which opened in 1939 on the site of a former church and chapel, a co-educational primary school and is also located across from the local Garda Síochána station serving the town of Mullingar, and the surrounding hinterland.

Saint Mary's College
Coláiste Mhuire
The main façade of the Hevey Institute, 2018
Address
  • College Street
  • Mullingar
  • N91 AT04
Coordinates53°31′38.125″N 7°20′48.815″W
Information
School typeVoluntary secondary school
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Opened22 October 1856 (1856-10-22)
FounderJames Hevey Trust
PrincipalMalachy Flanagan
Deputy Principal(s)
  • Keith Quinn
  • Niall O'Brien
Staff55 (2017)
Teaching staff43 (2017)
GenderPrimarily male
Age range12–19
Enrollment800 (2017)
Colour(s)     
NicknameC.B.S
Team nameSaint Mary's CBS
Roll number63270K
Websitecbsmullingar.ie
Last updated: February 21, 2018 (2018-02-21)

History and recent years

The foundation of the school in the town was largely due to the philanthropy of a local retired brewer and landowner, James Hevey. A site for the school was obtained from Lord Granard at an annual rent of £15.[1] Within 20 years, during which time the area was devastated by the Great Famine in the 1840s and as a result, delayed the opening of the school. Hevey's last will and testament of 1835, which had been looked over by Daniel O'Connell, also known as The Liberator, contained the following bequest: “all my right and interest in the town and in the lands of Bryanstown for the support, maintenance, and education of poor children of the parish of Mullingar”. The Hevey Institute was built to the designs of James Bourke, who died in 1871.[2] In September 1959, a primary school was opened on the grounds, while in 1972, a secondary school extension containing modernised classrooms was built at a cost of £124,060 Irish pounds, and this was extended in 2003 at a cost of €3 million which included a state of the art technology room which opened in February 2005. On 16 November 2012, the official opening of the restored Hevey Institute was held by members of the Hevey Trust which was set up after the death of James Hevey in 1837 to ensure that the benefactor's purpose was fulfilled.[3] Joseph O'Meara, a former mathematics teacher in the school, served as Principal from 1994 to 2015 when Malachy Flanagan, a geography teacher, was voted to take his role after his retirement in May 2015. The school is all-inclusive to people of all religions and backgrounds, and encourages individuality by supporting sport, art, music and academia. The Admissions policy states that it accepts students of non Catholic faiths, however it is noted that it does not state anything in relation to those who have no faith.

The school, c.1860-1883

School committees

The parent's council is a committee set up by the parents of students in the school, and other volunteers. The council debates on issues relevant to the ongoing development of the school, and on issues affecting students and school life. The student's council is a committee set up by students in the school. An election takes place each year, around the end of April for the next year's candidates. The student's council asks students on changes that they'd like to see changed to the school such as variations of food offered by the canteen and outdoor seating; giving students a voice to cast their opinion.

Extracurricular activities

Clubs and societies

GAA are the most prevalent sports played in the school with huge success in all fields, including hurling, Gaelic football and handball. Other clubs and societies include badminton, golf, music, basketball and drama.

Enrollment

The school was originally a boys only school since it was established in the 19th century. However, this changed in 1993 when the repeat of the Leaving Certificate became co-educational in the school as well as many others.Transition Year is offered in the school, and is an optional choice with a set fee for the year.

Notable alumni
Historical enrollment
YearEnroll.±%
1983588—    
1993646+9.9%
1999632−2.2%
2000601−4.9%
2001602+0.2%
2002578−4.0%
2003568−1.7%
2004549−3.3%
2005559+1.8%
2006579+3.6%
2007637+10.0%
2008645+1.3%
2009658+2.0%
2010722+9.7%
2011708−1.9%
2012703−0.7%
2013710+1.0%
2014735+3.5%
2015737+0.3%
2016709−3.8%
2017800+12.8%
2018785−1.9%
Source: www.irelandstats.com, www.schooldays.ie

References
  1. "Our History «  Colaiste Mhuire". www.cbsmullingar.ie. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  2. "Additional Images: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". www.buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  3. "Diocese of Meath -News". www.dioceseofmeath.ie. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
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