Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar

Saint Mary's College (Irish: Coláiste Mhuire) is a voluntary secondary school located in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. As the town's oldest post-primary school, it officially opened its doors to students in 1856. It is based partly in the Hevey Institute, and elsewhere in extensions which were built in the late 20th century. 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, and a co-educational primary school. The school is also located across from the local Garda Síochána station serving the town of Mullingar, and the surrounding areas.

History, and recent years

The foundation of the school in 1856 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 delayed the opening of the school, the Hevey Institute had been built and it opened its doors on October 22, 1856.^[2] Hevey’s last will and testament of 1835 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 John Bourke, who died in 1871.^[3] 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 which included more classrooms 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. 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. 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.

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.

A view of the 1972 classroom extension at the rear of the Hevey Institute along with the gymnasium which can be slightly seen at the left of the photograph beside the train tracks

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 chess, badminton, golf, music, quiz club and drama. Most recently, the Transition Year students have put on their own show of Grease alongside the students of the Loreto College.

Enrollment

The school was originally a boys only school since it was established. However, this changed in 1993 when Leaving Certificate repeats became co-educational. Transition Year is offered in the school and is optional unlike other schools which make it mandatory for all students.

References