Welcome to Scoil Mhuire Clane
Our new website is here to help both parents and students with the running of the school and an information source for both alike. We put together the most commonly asked information items into the site and we welcome suggestions as to additions we can put here to help you.
SCOIL MHUIRE- A BRIEF HISTORY
Secondary education was introduced to Clane in 1963 when the Presentation sisters established Scoil Mhuire in the convent building beside the church in the village’s main street, to fulfil the educational needs of girls in the Clane area. The first boys were admitted in 1967 and as the school enrolment increased further buildings in the village were utilised and land along the Prosperous Road was used to house prefabs.
After much campaigning and fundraising a brand new building was opened in 1983, This involved changing from a conventional type secondary school to a community school administered by a Board of Management, thus formally bringing into existence Scoil Mhuire Community School. Since 1983 much has changed with the opening of a new extension and gym in September 2001.
Throughout the school’s existence their have been many noteworthy days. In 1971 Pater Shortt achieved the highest honour available to science students in Ireland when he won the “Young Scientist of the Year” award. Two former pupils of the achool, Willie and Ted Ryan, represented Ireland at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. In 1988 the school senior football team became the fist Kildare team to win an All-Ireland Colleges title. The Kildare team that contested the All-Ireland final ten years later, in 1998, were backboned by members of that team. In 2010 the senior football team came close to emulating the team of 1988- losing narrowly in the All-Ireland final after tremendous victories in North Leinster, Leinster and the All-Ireland Semi-Final.
Many prominent people attended the school including the Hall of Fame inductees who grace the walls of the Assembly Area. Dr. Elizabeth Higgins who graduated from Scoil Mhuire in 1978, has worked throughout the developing world, particularly in the area of education. She is Head of Development Cooperation Ireland. Dr. Frank Mulligan was a member of the class of 1974 and went onto study physics before becoming Vice President of NUI Maynooth between 1998 and 2006. Eoghan Corry is a respected author and journalist who has written widely about the GAA. He graduated from Scoil Mhuire in 1978.
Other graduates have included drummer Graham Hopkins and bassist Joe Doyle, Cheltenham winning jockey Kieran Kelly (RIP) and famous television journalist Donal Mac Intyre.
With over 950 students and more than 70 staff and with an adult education enrolment that runs into thousands, Scoil Mhuire continues to meet the educational needs and play a key role in the life of the community of Clane and the surrounding areas.
