Patrician Academy
School Details
Location
About
Patrician Academy is a Catholic Voluntary Secondary School situated on Fair Street in Mallow, County Cork, operating under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Cloyne. The academy delivers a broad and balanced curriculum that includes the full Junior Certificate programme, a three‑year Senior Cycle culminating in the Leaving Certificate, and a compulsory Transition Year. In addition to mainstream subjects, the school provides alternative programmes for students with specific learning requirements and special educational needs, supported by dedicated resources such as a Special Education Unit and a Resource classroom. The campus combines historic buildings with modern facilities. Recent developments include a state‑of‑the‑art sports hall and gymnasium opened in 2012, upgraded science laboratories, a contemporary language laboratory, a computer room with internet and digital projectors in every classroom, and extensive playing fields for basketball, tennis and other sports. A Digital Learning Team, alongside initiatives such as the Cineálta anti‑bullying plan and the BeLonG To LGBTQ+ programme, underlines the academy’s commitment to a safe, inclusive and technologically enriched learning environment.
History
The site originally housed a monastery, with a primary school erected in 1867. The Patrician Brothers arrived in Mallow on 15 October 1879, establishing the Academy. Over the following decades the school expanded repeatedly: a single‑storey Academy building (1904), a Science and Art room (1911), additional storeys and classrooms (1924, 1936, 1969, 1973, 1992‑1994), and specialised facilities such as a Woodwork room (1971, 1977), a modern language laboratory (1993) and a state‑of‑the‑art computer room (1994). The last Patrician Brother left in 1994, after which lay leadership began. Significant recent milestones include the refurbishment of the Junior Block and the opening of a new Sports Hall/Gymnasium by Bishop William Crean in 2012.