St Muredach's College is an all-boys secondary school on the banks of the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. It was founded in 1906 to provide a Catholic education for boys in the Killala Diocese. The school building, which was designed by William Henry Byrne, is included on the Record of Protected Structures maintained by Mayo County Council.[3]
| St Muredach's College | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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Sligo Road Ballina , County Mayo Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 54°6′53.7″N 9°8′34.8″W / 54.114917°N 9.143000°W |
| Information | |
| Motto | Viriliter Agite ('Act in a manly way') |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Patron saint(s) | St. Muredach |
| Founded | 10 September 1906 |
| Founder | Bishop of Killala |
| School number | 64510J |
| Principal | Wayne Walsh[1] |
| Gender | Male |
| Enrolment | 378[2] (2023) |
| Classes offered | First Year to Leaving Certificate |
| Colour(s) | White and red |
| Nickname | Dachs |
| Website | www |
History
editIn 1901, the then Bishop of Killala proposed that a new school be opened as there was otherwise no secondary school between Belmullet and Sligo. St Muredach's opened in September 1906. The original school building, which was designed by W.H. Byrne,[4] was built on a site overlooking the River Moy.[5] Originally housing 76 boarding students, a new extension was opened in 1937.[6]
Fr. Cyril Haran taught at the school in the mid-20th century.[7]
In 1967, the school's enrolment increased due to the coming of free education nationally.[6] Around the same time, additional subjects were offered, including mechanical drawing, woodwork and art.[6] Extra classrooms were required, and a further extension was added in the late 1960s. A physical education hall was added in the 1970s.[6] By the late 1980s, boarding was phased out, and a new building (incorporating a woodwork room, art room and classrooms) came into use in 1990.[6] A computer room, library and canteen were added in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[6]
Teachers
edit- Patrick O'Boyle (1887-1971) - Bishop of Killala[citation needed]
- Cyril Haran (1931-2014) - priest, Gaelic footballer[citation needed]
- Christopher Jones (1936-2018) - Bishop of Elphin[citation needed]
Alumni
edit- P.J. Ruttledge (1892-1952) - Fianna Fáil politician[citation needed]
- Mick Loftus (1929-2023) - Gaelic footballer[citation needed]
- Martin Birrane (1935-2018) - businessman and racing car driver[citation needed]
- Michael Gaughan (1949-1974) - Irish republican, hunger-striker[citation needed]
- Kevin McStay (b. 1962) - Gaelic footballer and manager[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "School Enrolment 2023/2024". stmuredachscollege.ie. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "St Muredachs College". gov.ie. Department of Education. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Appendix B Record of Protected Structures". Ballina Town and Environs Development Plan, 2009-2015 (PDF). mayo.ie (Report). Mayo County Council. May 2009. p. 140. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ "Co. Mayo, Ballina, St Muiredach's Seminary". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Irish Architectural Archive. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
Byrne, William Henry [..] New College. 2-gabled Façade With Smaller Gable Over Door [..] Contractors: McKee & McNally, Cookstown
- ^ "Saint Muredach's Catholic College, Howley Street, Abbeyhalfquarter, Ballina Originally Ardnaree, Mayo". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "St Muredach's College - School History". stmuredachscollege.ie. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ "Fr Cyril Haran played huge role in Sligo GAA circles". The Sligo Champion. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020 – via pressreader.com.
- ^ "First lay principal for Muredach's". mayonews.ie. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2022.