Muckross Park College
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
| Muckross Park College | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 53°19′21″N 6°14′30″W / 53.3224°N 6.2416°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | St. Mary's University College |
| Type | Private secondary school |
| Motto | Template:Lang-la (Truth) |
| Denomination | Dominicans |
| Established | 1900 |
| Principal | Anne Marie Mee |
| Gender | Girls |
| Number of students | 720 |
| Website | muckrossparkcollege |
Muckross Park College (Template:Lang-ga) is a non fee paying Catholic secondary school for girls, located in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1900, the curriculum is traditional, with a broad general programme of subjects and a compulsory Transition year programme. Muckross is one of a number of Dominican schools in Ireland.[1] It has a student body of approximately 700.
The school has a reputation as a sporting school, including in hockey, tennis and basketball.[citation needed] Some former students have gone on to play for Ireland at the international level. Academically, the school has achieved high results and ranked highly in The Irish Times list of feeder schools for 3rd level education in Ireland.[citation needed]
History
The college was founded in 1900 as St. Mary's University College, initially a third-level college for women studying for degrees awarded by the Royal University of Ireland.
Junior and senior years
First, second and third years undertake the Junior Cycle curriculum in preparation for the Junior Certificate Examination.[citation needed]
Transition year (TY) consists of organising work placements several times throughout the year, as well as much more such as a school trip abroad.[citation needed] Every week, TY students undertake dance and drama classes at the nearby Independent Theatre Workshop studios.[citation needed] Other class modules include cooking, horticulture, yearbook, film making, and fitness.[citation needed]
Fifth year is a year for preparing for the Leaving Certificate Examinations. However, there is also the ski trip as well as the musical with Gonzaga College.[citation needed]
In sixth year, the pupils have much study to do, however they can also take part in the pre-debs party, mock party, and graduation mass.[citation needed]
Clubs and events
There are many clubs and activities in the school, including a book club. There is also a school choir, and a glee club has been introduced in the last few years.[when?]
Events during the school year include the opening of the school year mass which occurs in Donnybrook church.[citation needed] Other events include a Halloween dress-up day, and a sports day towards the end of the year.[citation needed] Every year gets a one- or two-day retreat as well as day trips (Ferrycarrig, museums and galleries, the Gaisce hike and Carlingford for T.Y, Newgrange etc.)[citation needed]
In previous years, transition year students at Muckross collaborated with transition year students of St. Michaels College in a charity fashion show. The show had different themes each year, and was a fundraiser for that year's chosen charity.[citation needed] The fashion show is no longer in action.[citation needed]
Sports
Muckross Park fields hockey teams at Minor, Junior and Senior levels, and has won many Leinster League titles. The Senior 1 team has also claimed the Senior Cup on several occasions.[citation needed] The senior basketball team, "The Cadettes", are also high achievers on the competitive circuit.[citation needed] Other sports include cricket, handball, tennis, swimming, horse-riding and athletics.[citation needed]
Past Pupils' Union
The Past Pupils' Union (PPU) began in 1912, twelve years after the school was founded. This makes it the oldest all-girls Past Pupils Union in Ireland.[citation needed] The Muckross Adult Choir consists of past pupils, staff members and parents of current and past Muckross pupils.[citation needed]
The Union also fundraises for its Benevolent Fund, which is used to grant financial assistance to those in need. The Muckross Park Past Pupils' Union Benevolent Fund was set-up during the tenure of the 1977/79 committee with the primary objective of helping past pupils who find themselves in financial difficulty. Over the years, the Fund has been used to support past pupils who have been impacted by serious illness, disability, bereavement, and unemployment. The Fund has also supported the education of students in need and other charitable causes deemed appropriate at the discretion of the committee, such as a Dominican early-learning programme in South Africa and a Dominican third-level project in Argentina. The fund is financed by way of an annual raffle and also through private donations.[citation needed]
Notable alumnae
- Nuala Carey, weather presenter on RTÉ 1 and Network 2[2]
- Emma Donoghue, author of the book "Room", shortlisted for the Man-Booker prize[3]
- Beatrice Doran, former chief librarian at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland[4][5]
- Dara Fitzpatrick, Irish Coastguard helicopter pilot
- Mary Rose Gearty, judge of the Irish High Court[6]
- Gemma O'Doherty, Far right activist and former Irish journalist [7]
- Anna O'Flanagan, Irish international hockey player[8]
- Síofra O'Leary, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights
- Máire Ní Chinnéide, Irish Language Activist, playwright, first President of the Camogie Association, and first female president of Oireachtas na Gaeilge [9]
See also
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The RTÉ Weather Team". RTE.ie. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Mystery Guild Book Club". Mysteryguild.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "'Donnybrook - A History' by Beatrice M. Doran". 13 December 2013.
- ^ "From the Grand Canal to the Dodder - Illustrious Women". 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). OLH. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Winners of Media Awards". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Irish hockey star Anna O'Flanagan enjoying Dutch adventure". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ "Máire Ní Chinnéide" (in Irish). 24 March 2022.