Malahide Community School
School Details
Location
About
Malahide Community School is a co‑educational, multi‑denominational post‑primary institution that welcomes pupils of all religious backgrounds. Operating under the joint patronage of the Archdiocese of Dublin and Dublin Dún Laoghaire ETB, the school delivers a comprehensive curriculum for the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate, alongside a robust adult‑education programme for the wider community. Its educational philosophy stresses the development of spiritual and moral values, personal and social skills, and the pursuit of academic excellence, fostering an inclusive environment where every learner can reach their full potential. The school’s facilities are centred on a purpose‑built, bespoke building erected in February 2007, which provides modern classrooms, specialist laboratories, and spaces for sport, arts and technology. A strong emphasis is placed on extracurricular achievement, with notable successes in Leinster sports championships, variety shows and community projects such as the TY Food Clothing Collection. The school also promotes lifelong learning, offering leisure and continuing‑education opportunities that reinforce its role as a community hub.
History
The origins of Malahide Community School trace back to 1953 when Mrs Catherine Dowling founded Stella Maris School, a secondary school for girls in Malahide. In 1958 the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus opened a convent secondary school at Broomfield, which became Scoil Íosa, initially enrolling 17 female students. A junior school was added in 1959 and, in 1971, the community moved into a new building for 300 pupils. In 1976 Scoil Íosa joined the Community School system, was renamed Pobalscoil Íosa, and under the first principal Sr Kathleen Day was officially opened by Archbishop Ryan on 18 May 1977 with a roll of just over 500. The Sisters continued to serve for more than two decades. A state‑of‑the‑art building replaced the original structure in February 2007, and today the school educates over 1,200 students while retaining the founding Christian values and the inclusive ethos of the Dublin Dún Laoghaire ETB.