Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar
School Details
Location
About
Coláiste Mhuire is a boys’ secondary school situated in the heart of Mullingar, directly opposite the Cathedral of Christ the King. As an Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) institution, the school’s ethos is grounded in the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice, promoting equality of access for children of any faith, ability, nationality or ethnic background. The curriculum is designed to be well‑rounded and holistic, placing each pupil at the centre of every decision and fostering academic excellence alongside personal development, social justice and environmental stewardship. The school offers a broad range of facilities to support both learning and extra‑curricular interests. Modern classrooms and a state‑of‑the‑art technology room (opened 2005) complement specialist science labs, while a sports gym (built 1980) underpins a strong sporting tradition that includes Gaelic games. A variety of clubs, societies and an autism‑specific class demonstrate the school’s commitment to inclusive, personalised education and to providing a happy, engaging school experience for all students.
History
Coláiste Mhuire opened on 20 October 1856 as the Hevey Institute, founded through the bequest of local brewer James Hevey. Initially comprising a Classical School (Latin and Greek) and a school for poor parish children, it quickly grew to 400 pupils by the 1860s. Over the years the institute was expanded and restored: a primary school was added in 1959, a new secondary building opened in 1972, a sports gym in 1980, and a €3 million extension with a technology room in 2003‑2005. The Christian Brothers departed in 2005, after which the historic building underwent a comprehensive refurbishment in 2008, preserving its original architectural features while modernising the facilities.