St Muredach's College
| St Muredach's College | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Sligo Road Ballina , County Mayo Ireland 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 | St. Muredach |
| Founded | 10 September 1906 |
| Founder | Bishop of Killala |
| School number | 64510J |
| Principal | Wayne Walsh[1] |
| Gender | Male |
| Enrolment | 401[2] (2025) |
| Classes offered | First Year to Leaving Certificate |
| Colours | White and red |
| Nickname | Dachs |
| Website | www.stmuredachscollege.ie |
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]
History
In 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]
The schools' first lay principal was appointed in 2008.[8]
Teachers
- Patrick O'Boyle (1887–1971) - Bishop of Killala
- Cyril Haran (1931–2014) - priest, Gaelic footballer[9]
- Christopher Jones (1936–2018) - Bishop of Elphin[10]
Alumni
- Martin Birrane (1935–2018), businessman and racing car driver[11]
- Ger Cafferkey (b. 1987), Gaelic footballer
- Dara Calleary (b. 1976), Minister of State[12]
- David Cawley (b. 1991) professional footballer
- David Clarke (b. 1983), Gaelic footballer
- Mark Duffy (b. 1991), Senator
- Ray Foley (b. 1981), radio and television presenter
- Michael Gaughan (1949–1974), Irish republican, hunger-striker
- Mick Loftus (1929–2023), Gaelic footballer[13]
- Kevin McLoughlin (b. 1989) Gaelic footballer
- Kevin McStay (b. 1962), Gaelic footballer and manager
- P.J. Ruttledge (1892–1952), Fianna Fáil politician[14]
- Declan Walsh (b.1976), journalist[15]
References
- Back to citation "School Enrolment 2023/2024". stmuredachscollege.ie. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- Back to citation "St Muredachs College". gov.ie. Department of Education. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- Back to citation "Appendix B Record of Protected Structures". Ballina Town and Environs Development Plan, 2009-2015 (PDF) (Report). Mayo County Council. May 2009. p. 140. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- Back to citation "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”
- Back to citation "Saint Muredach's Catholic College, Howley Street, Abbeyhalfquarter, Ballina Originally Ardnaree, Mayo". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- Back to citation occurrence 6.0 Back to citation occurrence 6.1 Back to citation occurrence 6.2 Back to citation occurrence 6.3 Back to citation occurrence 6.4 Back to citation occurrence 6.5 "St Muredach's College - School History". stmuredachscollege.ie. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- Back to citation "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 Press Reader.
- Back to citation "First lay principal for Muredach's". mayonews.ie. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- Back to citation "Fr Cyril Haran played huge role in Sligo GAA circles: Priest also remembered as renowned scholar and teacher". The Sligo Champion. 1 July 2014.
- Back to citation "Former Bishop of Elphin dies aged 82". RTÉ. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2025. “[Jones] spent the first three years of his priesthood at St Muredach's College in Ballina”
- Back to citation "Obituary: Martin Birrane". Irish Independent. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2025. “Martin Brendan Birrane [.] was born in August 1935 and educated at St Muredach's College”
- Back to citation "Biography - Dara Calleary". gov.ie. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026. “Dara [Calleary] studied Business and Politics at Trinity College Dublin and attended St Muredach's College Ballina and St Oliver Plunkett National School”
- Back to citation McGoldrick, Sean (22 April 2023). "Dr Mick Loftus – former GAA president and last surviving member of Mayo's 1951 All-Ireland winning panel – dies aged 93". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 February 2025. “[Loftus began] his GAA playing career with St Muredach's College in Ballina”
- Back to citation Coleman, Marie (October 2009), "Ruttledge, Patrick Joseph ('Paddy', 'P. J.')", Dictionary of Irish Biography, Royal Irish Academy, doi:10.3318/dib.007854.v1
- Back to citation "Mayo journalist wins Pulitzer Prize for international reporting". Connaught Telegraph. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2026.