About Us
The seed of Scoil Mhuire was born out of the Presentation Convent. It was the Presentation Sisters and dedicated staff that nurtured the school throughout the years. The school is now a bedrock of Clane community. Reflecting on the school’s history and unique spirit I realise how honoured and privileged I am to be Principal.
The school's curriculum is very much a reflection of its founders. Today in Scoil Mhuire we cater for everybody. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum.
Evidence of the community identification is the extraordinarily successful Adult Education programme, which offers lifelong learning opportunities to the people in Clane and the surrounding areas.
The success of the school is the partnership and respect that exists between staff, students and parents. It is the extraordinary dedication of the teachers, secretarial and caretaking staff that gives Scoil Mhuire its unique spirit. This culture of dedication is passed on to any new member of staff in the school.
Scoil Mhuire is a hive of activity outside of the very busy curriculum. An extensive range of extra curricular activities is provided for the students. Sports, drama, debating, music, young scientist, foreign travel and fundraising for charity are just some of the activities that help students develop a rounded education. Scoil Mhuire has had many successes outside the classroom.
Today the school needs to be an ever-evolving organisation meeting the needs of a multicultural society. Schools of the past were concerned with the three Rs of reading, writing, and arithmetic. These now are augmented with the three Ts of thinking, teamwork and technology and mixed with the three Cs of care, courtesy and consideration. The challenges today are greater than they have ever been and Scoil Mhuire, because of its history and traditions, is well established to meet these challenges.
Kevin Martin, Principal.
- Scoil Mhuire is a Community School consisting of Staff, Students, Parents and Management.
- As a centre for the formation of youth its aim is to strive for a more Christian and just society.
- To provide a warm and caring environment where students are taught to respect the dignity of each person and to develop their own sense of worth and self-esteem.
- It seeks to provide a disciplined atmosphere in which students can work and develop their talents to the best of their abilities.
- All are expected to strive for excellence in all their pursuits whether academic or non academic.
- Scoil Mhuire works within the curriculum of the Department of Education and provides extra curricular activities aiming at the growth of the whole person.
- Students are encouraged to develop their academic, intuitive and creative gifts to enable them to live their lives to the full and contribute in a positive way to the society of which they are a part.
- The school continually re-examines its goals and objectives and responds in a creative way to the demands of changing times.
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 Peter 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 school, Willie and Ted Ryan, represented Ireland at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. In 1988 the school senior football team became the fi st 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 footballers reached the All-Ireland Final again, losing narrowly after a great campaign that brought a Leinster title to the school.
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 jockies Kieran Kelly (RIP) and Mark Walsh, and famous television journalist Donal Mac Intyre.
With over 1200 students and more than 80 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.
The torch effect symbolises light, enlightenment, building up which is the aspiration of education. In the light stand a boy and girl enfolded by two hands indicating the support and care sought to be provided for them in the school. Behind the students one can see the shape of a book, which symbolises the learning, and study, which the school encourages and provides
Scoil Mhuire is governed by a Board of Management made up of democratically elected members. The Board has representatives from the Trustees, Teachers and Parents.
Trustees
Joint trusteeship is vested in the Department of Education and Science, Kildare Wicklow ETB. and the Presentation Sisters Northern Province.
Board Members
The Board has ten members and is made up as follows:
Order Nominees 3
Kildare Wicklow ETB 3
Parent Nominees 2
Staff Nominees 2