Dominican College
School Details
About
Dominican College, Taylor's Hill, Galway is a post‑primary school for girls that combines a long tradition of Dominican education with a modern, holistic approach to learning. The college aims to develop pupils academically, sporting, artistic, social and musical talents, encouraging them to reach their full potential in a supportive and nurturing environment. High expectations are set across all areas, and a wide‑ranging curriculum is complemented by a strong emphasis on personal development and responsibility. The school boasts extensive facilities, including two dedicated computer suites, four state‑of‑the‑art science laboratories, two Home Economics rooms, an art room and data‑projectors in every classroom. Sporting provision features an artificial hockey pitch, a gym with an international‑size basketball court and a fully equipped fitness suite. A broad extra‑curricular programme offers hockey, basketball, Gaelic football, soccer, athletics, a running club, debating, glee club, choir, music lessons and an annual school musical, providing ample opportunities for pupils to explore and excel beyond the classroom.
History
The Dominican presence in Galway began in 1644 when the first Irish Dominican nuns established a community. After surviving Cromwell’s forces, exile in Spain, the Penal Laws and the Great Famine, the nuns settled at Seaview on Taylor’s Hill on 4 June 1845. A Day School for Young Ladies opened in 1858, followed by the Mount St Joseph’s Boarding School in 1859. Subsequent expansions included the Rosary School (1958) and St Dominic’s boarding school (1901), which was replaced in 2007 by a new, state‑of‑the‑art building.