Scoil Chaitríona, founded in 1928, was the first-ever Meanscoil Gaeilge (all-Irish secondary school) for girls to be established in Ireland. Here, all subjects are taught through the medium of the Irish language.
Founded by the Dominican Sisters at 22 Eccles Street (across the road from Leopold Bloom’s imaginary home as described on the pages of Ulysses) Scoil Chaitríona was named for Saint Catherine of Siena a saint associated with this order. It started out as the "A-school" stream of the Dominican College Eccles Street (for students who scored highest in entrance exams). With increasing student numbers it soon became necessary to relocate to larger premises.
On 21 April 1972, Scoil Chaitríona moved to its present site in Móbhí Road, Glasnevin (as pictured above). Day pupils travelled long-distance from all over Dublin (in particular from North County Dublin) to avail of Irish-medium education. The old school buildings in Eccles Street were demolished to make way for an extension to the Mater Hospital. The screens from the demolished Dominican Chapel at Eccles Street were installed at Scoil Chaitríona.
In 1986 its first year of boys were enrolled, having become a co-educational school. In 2009 the Le Chéile Schools Trust took over from the Dominican sisters as trustees. It currently enrols about 400 students.
In 2018 Scoil Chaitriona celebrated its 90-year Reunion and in 2019, the school made news headlines when it visited by movie star Saoirse Ronan. In 2020, Scoil Chaitríona was the first school in Ireland to close as a precautionary measure for the Corona Virus.
Past-pupils:
- RTÉ broadcaster Marian Finucane (1950-2020)
- IFTA-winning actor Fionnuala Flanagan
- Awar-winning author Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
- Centenarian Molly (Boland) Long NYC
Past staff
- Sr Treasa Ní Fhlanagain OP founding principal (1928- )
- Sr Manus O'Byrne OP, English teacher, was the principal of Scoil Chaitríona from 1960-1966.
- Sr. Cajetan Lyons O.P
OVER TO YOU...
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References
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Scoil Chaitriona Official website | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
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Facebook: Scoil Chaitriona | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
