St Pauls
School Details
About
St Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard is a co‑educational voluntary secondary school situated in the heart of County Galway. Under the trusteeship of CEIST, the school delivers a Catholic‑based education that prioritises both academic achievement and the holistic development of each pupil. The ethos is centred on nurturing self‑esteem, fostering mutual respect and applying the core values of the gospel in everyday life, while promoting spiritual and human growth within a caring, safe community. The campus combines modern learning environments with extensive sporting facilities. Academic spaces include two specialised science laboratories, a demonstration room, a fully equipped computer suite, dedicated rooms for woodwork, home economics and art, as well as a careers office. Recent extensions have added a construction studies suite, technical drawing room and additional classrooms to accommodate growing enrolments. Sporting provision features a spacious sports hall, three outdoor courts and a football pitch, supporting a wide range of extra‑curricular activities and competitions. The school’s mission is to nurture the academic and personal development of every student, encouraging them to “be the best that you can be” and to act justly and responsibly within the wider community.
History
St Paul’s Secondary School was founded in 1964 by the Mercy Sisters as the third co‑educational secondary school in County Galway, initially operating from two rooms in St Joseph’s Convent. As enrolment grew, prefabricated classrooms were added, including dedicated spaces for woodwork, science and home economics. On 15 October 1990 the Minister for Education laid the foundation stone for a new purpose‑built school, which opened on 12 December 1991, featuring modern science labs, a demonstration room, woodwork, computer, home economics and art rooms, a careers office, dining areas and a sports hall with courts and a football pitch. A 1999 extension introduced a canteen, technical drawing room and additional facilities. In 2007 CEIST assumed trusteeship, reinforcing the school’s commitment to quality teaching, respect, community and justice. The 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2014, and a 2015 state‑of‑the‑art extension added a construction studies suite and two classrooms. Notable principals have included Sr Finian Concannon (1964‑1971) through to the current leadership.