Presentation College
School Details
About
Presentation College Athenry is a voluntary co‑educational secondary school rooted in the Catholic tradition and the educational ethos of Nano Nagle. The college emphasises the development of Christian values through daily prayer, liturgical celebrations and religious formation classes, while welcoming pupils of all faiths and cultural backgrounds. As a member of CEIST – Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust – the school pursues a holistic curriculum that balances academic rigour with personal growth, encouraging responsibility, mutual respect and community service. The school day runs from 8.00 am, with organised study facilities available for early arrivals and evening revision sessions for exam students. Lessons commence at 9.00 am and finish at 4.00 pm (1.20 pm on Fridays). Facilities include a long‑standing technology block, a locally‑supported gymnasium, a canteen, and dedicated study areas. All extra‑curricular activities, ranging from sport to cultural clubs, are supervised by staff, and the college boasts a strong record in hurling, camogie and cross‑country. A robust pastoral system provides year‑heads, academic monitors, guidance counsellors and a Student Representative Council to support pupil welfare and voice.
History
The institution began in 1908 as the Presentation Convent in Athenry, founded by the Tuam mother‑house of the Presentation Sisters. By the late 1920s the Sisters introduced secondary education for girls, with the first Intermediate Certificate candidates sitting exams in 1930. The school was formally registered as a secondary school in 1948 and expanded its enrolment throughout the 1950s, adding a Technology Block in 1951. In 1964 boys were admitted, and the school was renamed Presentation College. The 1968 amalgamation with the co‑educational Coolarne school and the introduction of free education dramatically increased numbers. A new main building and gymnasium were completed between 1980 and 1982. Today the college continues under the trusteeship of CEIST.