Our Lady's Bower
School Details
Location
About
Our Lady’s Bower is a voluntary secondary school for girls situated on Retreat Road in Athlone, County Westmeath. The school delivers a Catholic‑based education that balances high academic standards with a strong emphasis on personal, spiritual and social development. Pupils follow the Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and a richly‑varied Transition Year programme that includes musical, drama, scientific and entrepreneurial projects such as Junk Kouture, Young Scientist and Young Social Innovators. A dedicated guidance service supports students with personal, educational and career planning, while a wide range of sports, arts and cultural activities encourage holistic growth. The campus is fully equipped with modern classrooms, specialist laboratories, a library and extensive sports facilities, reflecting the school’s evolution into a leading educational centre in the Midlands. With an enrolment of over 650 girls drawn from the midlands, Europe and overseas, the community is cosmopolitan and supportive. The school’s ethos, encapsulated in the motto “Each for all and all for God”, underpins a nurturing environment where responsibility, respect and inclusion are actively promoted.
History
Our Lady’s Bower was founded in May 1884 by the Sisters of La Sainte Union des Sacrés Cœurs, who took possession of a newly‑built convent on the eastern edge of Athlone. The congregation originated in Douai, France, in 1826 and expanded across Europe before establishing schools in Ireland. Originally a residential and day school, it accommodated up to 130 boarders until June 2014. Today the school is a girls‑only voluntary secondary institution with more than 650 students, maintaining its Catholic ethos while embracing a modern, fully‑equipped educational setting.