St Paul's - A Walk Through Memory Lane

1962

The Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle accepted an invitation from Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to start a school on the outskirts of Dublin.

They purchased 50 acres of land (formerly Taylor’s Farm) for the building of St Paul’s primary and secondary schools, St Peter’s boys’ primary school and the Church of the Holy Spirit. The Sisters also built a convent adjacent to the school.

Convent
The Sisters of St Paul lived in the convent adjacent to the school
The first intake of students in 1965

1965

The first 62 pupils enrolled in St Paul’s Secondary School, initially in a few prefab classrooms, with Mother Malachy taking the reins as the first principal.

1976

The school grew in size to 750 pupils. As a result,  space became tight, resulting in the first years being brought by bus to be taught in classrooms in St Kevin’s GNS, Kilnamanagh.

1978

A new extension was built to accommodate the growing numbers. This comprised two wings – the 40s and 50s – and a central concourse.

1989

The school was damaged by fire, which caused the hall to burn down and the building to suffer extensive smoke damage.

1990

The hall was rebuilt and its official opening was held. The school also celebrated its silver jubilee.

1989 Fire
Jean and Elizabeth
Jean Byrne and Elizabeth Dowling - winners of the 1992 Young Scientists of the Year

1992

Two students, Elizabeth Dowling and Jean Byrne (RIP), were crowned the 1992 Young Scientists of the Year for their project, “A Picture Winged Insect – Population Dynamics of a Thistle Predator Terellia Serratulae.’

The students of Sister Elizabeth Walsh also won a top award at the European Commmunity Contest for Young Scientists at Expo’92 in Seville, and were guests of honour that year at the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm.

1996

A new wing – the 60s –  was added to the school and was officially opened by Bishop Eamonn Walsh.

1999

The kelly green school uniform was replaced by a blue and green uniform.

2000

The Millennium window was designed and painted by 5th year students.

2001

St Paul’s received its first green flag from Mary Harney. It received its second one in 2005 from Trevor Sargent and its third green flag in 2010 from Eamonn Ryan.

Millennium Window 2
The Millennium window was designed in 2000
Mary McAleese 4 - Edited
President Mary McAleese visited the school in 2010

2005

The Pavilion Café opened in the school, serving breakfast and lunch to students.

2009

The blessing of the school’s new oratory took place and the school library opened that same year.

2010

The staff and pupils were honoured and delighted to receive a visit from Uachtaráin na hÉireann, President Mary McAleese.

2010

The school entered into a new phase in its history when the Sisters of St. Paul, along with other congregations, transferred the trusteeship to the  Le Chéile Trust.

The role of Le Chéile is the development of a vision of Catholic education. The Trust took over the legal, financial and inspirational role of trusteeship that had been the responsibility of individual congregations.

2012

The school’s new outdoor sports facilities opened.

Le Cheile (2)
The mass celebrating the Le Chéile trusteeship
2015 Golden Jubilee 6 (1)
Bishop Eamonn Walsh celebrating mass for the 50th anniversary

2015

A mass was held in honour of the 50th anniversary of St Paul’s, celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh.

2016

The convent land was sold and the Sisters moved into houses locally. A new astro sports pitch was built in the school, and a new car park was constructed.

St Paul's Leadership through the Years

Principals

Geraldine Troy

2020 – present
Mark Dowling

2018 – 2020

Majella Deasy

2008 – 2018

Triona Glacken

1993 – 2008

Sr Mary Clare Dunne

1978 – 1993

Sr Honore Breen

1972 – 1978

Sr Gerard Brady

1968 – 1972

Mother Malachy

1965 – 1968

Deputy Principals

Margaret O’Shea

2020 – present

Geraldine Troy

2012 – 2020

Frances Leahy

2003 – 2012

Delma Mills

1995 – 2002

Barbara Fleming

1987 – 2003

Joan O’Connell

1983 – 1987

Agnes Curran

1972 – 1983

School Productions

masks-1700440_1280

1970

The Mikado

1971

The Quaker Girl

1974

The Sound of Music

1975

Love from Judy

1981

The Sound of Music

1982

My Fair Lady

1985

Oliver

1993

The Wizard of Oz

1994

Juno and the Paycock

1995

Scrooge

1996

Oliver

2015

Grease

2017

A Doll’s House

2018

Oliver

2019

Sive

2020

Mary Poppins