Loreto Secondary School
School Details
About
Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny is a Catholic secondary school dedicated to the holistic development of each girl. The school’s mission is to nurture personal responsibility for learning within a safe, caring and spiritual environment, guided by the Loreto values of justice, freedom, truth, sincerity and joy. A broad, balanced curriculum is offered, encouraging self‑directed learning and academic excellence while fostering social, creative, physical and moral well‑being. The school provides a rich programme of extra‑curricular activities, ranging from sport, music, dance and drama to a variety of clubs, societies and craft workshops, enabling students to acquire lifelong skills and enjoy a vibrant community life. Modern facilities include a concert hall built in 1939 and successive extensions (1972, 1978, 1986 and a further development completed in 2004), which together accommodate over a thousand pupils and support a wide array of learning and recreational spaces. The inclusive ethos, strong pastoral care and extensive co‑curricular options make Loreto Letterkenny a dynamic centre for personal and academic growth.
History
The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Order) was founded in England by Mary Ward in the 17th century and introduced to Ireland in 1821 by Mother Frances Teresa Ball. In 1854 Bishop Dr McGettigan invited the Order to establish a secondary school for girls in Letterkenny, providing the house that remains the convent’s nucleus. The day‑school opened on 4 September 1854 with five pupils. A new wing with a concert hall was added in 1939, with further extensions in 1972, 1978 and 1986; a later extension was completed for occupation in September 2004. The school was an all‑Irish medium institution from the 1920s until 1976 and ceased boarding in 1978. Today it is one of nineteen Loreto secondary schools in Ireland, with enrolment exceeding one thousand students.