In The beginning
In 1860 the parish priest of St. Mary's, Fr. Baldwin, requested the Christian Brothers to take over a parochial school in the parish. This school, which had been in existence prior to 1822, was located in a building adjacent to St. Mary's church in Irishtown. At the time it catered for some three hundred boys and was supported by church-gate collections.
A report of the Commissioners of Education stated that it catered for three hundred boys and a later report said that it was run by three "pious laymen". Since 1829 it had occupied the building next to the church which the Presentation Sisters had vacated that same year. The Christian Brothers continued to operate it from there.
A report of the Commissioners of Education stated that it catered for three hundred boys and a later report said that it was run by three "pious laymen". Since 1829 it had occupied the building next to the church which the Presentation Sisters had vacated that same year. The Christian Brothers continued to operate it from there.
Secondary tops
At the turn of the twentieth century the distinction between primary and secondary schools in Clonmel was not clearly defined. All national schools in the town were providing some degree of secondary education.
The opening of the High School in 1900 was viewed with alarm by many people in Irishtown. They felt that their own St. Mary's National School which was providing secondary classes would be downgraded by the new development.
Temporarily at least, their fears were unfounded and as late as 1930 the school was still preparing pupils for the Leaving Certificate. By then national schools providing a degree of secondary education had become known as 'Secondary Tops'.
Four years later it was considered that their secondary section was no longer economical and that St. Mary's should be exclusively a primary school.
The opening of the High School in 1900 was viewed with alarm by many people in Irishtown. They felt that their own St. Mary's National School which was providing secondary classes would be downgraded by the new development.
Temporarily at least, their fears were unfounded and as late as 1930 the school was still preparing pupils for the Leaving Certificate. By then national schools providing a degree of secondary education had become known as 'Secondary Tops'.
Four years later it was considered that their secondary section was no longer economical and that St. Mary's should be exclusively a primary school.
Relocation
By this stage St. Mary's had changed location. Since 1928 the Christian Brothers had been anxious to find better accommodation for their pupils. As a solution they accepted the offer of occupancy of a portion of the Model School, situated on the Western Road. The move was made in 1931.
The 1960's in Ireland saw a period of rapid economic growth and the census of 1966 recorded the first population increase since the famine of the 1840's. Radical changes in government policy brought about increased educational opportunities. In the period 1960 to 1980 the numbers attending secondary and vocational schools trebled. These developments took place at a time when all the schools in Clonmel were either too old or ill-equipped to deal with the explosion in the school-going population. To meet the challenges a rapid building programme was undertaken and in a remarkably short time the town had a modern school system.
The Christian Brothers led the way. In 1961 their monastery in Adelaide House, Irishtown, which they had occupied since 1928, was knocked and replaced by a new primary school capable of catering for 350 pupils. St. Mary's C.B.S. has remained in this location since.
The 1960's in Ireland saw a period of rapid economic growth and the census of 1966 recorded the first population increase since the famine of the 1840's. Radical changes in government policy brought about increased educational opportunities. In the period 1960 to 1980 the numbers attending secondary and vocational schools trebled. These developments took place at a time when all the schools in Clonmel were either too old or ill-equipped to deal with the explosion in the school-going population. To meet the challenges a rapid building programme was undertaken and in a remarkably short time the town had a modern school system.
The Christian Brothers led the way. In 1961 their monastery in Adelaide House, Irishtown, which they had occupied since 1928, was knocked and replaced by a new primary school capable of catering for 350 pupils. St. Mary's C.B.S. has remained in this location since.
developments
Since 1961 there have been several developments. Rooms originally used as cloakrooms have been converted into classrooms and resource rooms. The present PE Hall was added 30 years ago. In the last 10 years a modern well-equipped computer room has been added and now provides reliable, high-speed broadband Internet access. The recent establishment of a Wireless Network means that access to the Internet is possible throughout the school. A soft-surface play area has been constructed adjacent the school yard to facilitate our younger pupils at play times.
Thursday 1st October 2009 marked a new important milestone in the history of St. Mary's when our new development was blessed and officially opened by Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Dr. William Lee. Funding for our new building, which consists of new classrooms, resource rooms and office space, was provided for under the Department of Education and Science's Devolved Grant Scheme.
In September 2013 pupils and staff moved into our new purposely built permanent ASD pre-school unit on school grounds adjacent to the main school building heralding the lastest development in the proud history of St. Mary's.
Thursday 1st October 2009 marked a new important milestone in the history of St. Mary's when our new development was blessed and officially opened by Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Dr. William Lee. Funding for our new building, which consists of new classrooms, resource rooms and office space, was provided for under the Department of Education and Science's Devolved Grant Scheme.
In September 2013 pupils and staff moved into our new purposely built permanent ASD pre-school unit on school grounds adjacent to the main school building heralding the lastest development in the proud history of St. Mary's.
