St Aloysius School
School Details
Location
About
St. Aloysius School, Cork is an all‑girls voluntary secondary school founded by the Sisters of Mercy and governed by a Board of Management. The school embraces a Catholic ethos while delivering a holistic education that balances rigorous academic challenge with the development of spiritual, moral, aesthetic, interpersonal and physical wellbeing. A broad, flexible curriculum is designed to meet the individual needs of each pupil, supported by experienced staff who foster confidence, self‑respect and a sense of justice. The campus overlooks a tree‑lined field beside the River Lee and comprises bright, airy classrooms, a well‑equipped library, science laboratories, a music room, home economics suites and a modern computer suite. Sporting facilities include playing fields, tennis courts and a gym hall, while dedicated spaces such as a canteen, guidance and support centre, and after‑school study club enhance the learning environment. Extra‑curricular programmes, digital learning initiatives and strong partnerships with parents further enrich student life, preparing young women for academic success and active community participation.
History
St. Aloysius School was founded in 1839 in a large room on Rutland Street at the suggestion of Mother Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. In 1852 the school moved to the present‑day St. Maries of the Isle convent, teaching in two rooms with a garden playground. A new building across the road, known as “The Old School”, opened in 1893 and was demolished in 1978. After purchasing the Railway Field in 1924, the “New School” opened in 1927, followed by a New Wing in 1962 and further expansions in 1972 that added an upper storey, additional classrooms, laboratories, a library, gym hall and a canteen. Subsequent upgrades introduced a computer room, music room, science labs and home economics rooms. In 2019 the school celebrated its 180th anniversary of involvement in education.