Throughout Ireland’s history, education has always been greatly valued and desired.
This section describes the vibrant history of Notre Dame School as an educational institute, focusing on how the introduction of Ireland’s different educational policies, religious influences as well as economic factors have sculpted the school over the years.
By 1950 Ireland had declared itself a republic and a new constitution was in place. Within this constitution an education policy was established (article 42.4.), parts of which remain unchanged in our constitution today [3].
There were two forms of second-level education available in the country at this time [4] . The private, church-associated schools which were fee paying and the alternative ‘vocational schools’ which were publicly managed, focusing more on practical subjects and thought of as a ‘poor persons’ secondary schooling. Set syllabi were administered by the state along with the format for intermediate certificate and leaving certificate examinations.
It was at this time, in the early 1950s the missionary congregates from the RNDM travelled to Ireland as a need for catholic education especially for girls had developed in the country. The Sisters opened Notre Dame des Missions School in September of 1952, on the premises of what was formally a private house in Churchtown, Dublin. A new wing was added to the existing building to provide four class rooms and a library.
Aerial view of Notre Dame des Missions (1960’s)
By 1953 the number of girls attending the school had increased from 8 to 52 pupils, made up of students in both primary and second-level education. At this time the school had accommodation for up to 150 students and was being run by 10 congregates. Notre Dame des Mission School was recognised by the Department of Education and Science in 1953.
The first eight pupils 1952
Senior and Junior school pupils 1953
First communicants outside the convent (1960’s)
As the government increased its expenditure on the countries education, the number of students attending second-level education reflectively grew. Between 1950 and 1967 there was a ~200% increase in student attendance at secondary schools [5]. A significant increase in student numbers occurred over this time period in the Notre Dame des Missions School as highlighted from the 1966 school picture in which over 120 students are shown to be in attendance at the school.
Picture 1966 with Ms Coffey, Mrs Loftus and Ms Naylor
Students attending the fee-paying Notre Dame des Mission School at this time would have been classified as quite well-off. School life revolved around the set curriculum which was quite limited having a great emphasis on the Irish language and Latin, with relatively little focus on modern languages, science education or art. In conversation with a former student of Notre Dame des Mission who attended the school at this time, she reflected on how the school placed great emphasis on developing students into ‘ladies’, with weekly classes in etiquette and deportment. As evident by the playing field in the picture of the school ground students of Notre Dame des Missions students also participated in some physical education and had an active hockey team.
Stain glass window – Illustration by William Earley (Foyer of Notre Dame des Mission 1958)
Class sizes were small and by 1966 teachers in the school were not all members of the RDNM congregation (as can be seen in the school picture from 1966 above, which contained staff members Ms Caffrey, Mrs Loftus and Ms Naylor). However as the school was church-associated religious education was still a focus of the school, with a huge stain glass window in the foyer of the school in celebration of Mother Mary.
The establishment of Minister O ’Malley’s Free-Secondary Education scheme in 1966 was a key milestone in Irelands educational history. O ’Malley recognised the urgent need of the Irish people for accessible secondary-level schooling and established this scheme which aimed to abolish fees for entry into both to secondary and vocational schools thereby making secondary school education available to all [6].
Over 90% of the schools in Ireland joined this scheme and as a result the numbers of students attending secondary schools rose dramatically with over 291,000 students attaining second-level education by 1977 [5].
O’Malley’s scheme although very popular amongst the general public was not approved by the church initially and Notre Dame des Mission, alongside other schools such as Terenure College, Loreto College, St. Stephen’s Green and Gonzaga College, Sandford Road did not join the scheme, remaining fee-paying schools. A list of schools not in the scheme can be seen in the Dail debate 30/11/1969 transcriptions [7].
Despite not being part of the Free-Secondary Education scheme, Notre Dame des Missions School continued to flourish over the years, establishing a great reputation for its religious ethos and educational standards as well as the schools sporting, debating and choral achievements.
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- Sr. Christopher and Sr. Elizabeth with leaving certificate exam scripts (1969)
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- Winning swimming team (1970’s) – including olympic swimmers Aisling O’ Leary and Christine Fulcher
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- The Vard sisters – past pupils of Notre Dame des Missions
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- Notre Dame des missions senior choir 1993
One key characteristic of Notre Dame des Missions Secondary school which was retained since establishment was the schools attention to the needs of each individual student. This was catered for in one way by always keeping class sizes small. Statistical records indicate that the number of students in Notre Dame des Missions Secondary school never grew over 350 attendees at any time [8]. This small number of students is also evident by the lack of extension work carried out on the school building itself. Although government aid and grants for buildings and improvements in secondary schools was introduced, the Notre Dame des Missions Secondary school building to date remains remarkably similar to the original property.
Notre Dame Secondary School building 2016
Up to 2002 life as a Notre Dame des Missions Student would not have changed too dramatically. Religion was still a big part of the school day, with the school having a special celebration for founder’s day each year. A renewed curriculum placed more emphasis on science, which evident in the school by the refurbishment of a locker room into an additional physics/chemistry laboratory in 2000. However emphasis on sport and the choir was still constant in the school, as was the presence of members of the RNDM community, who can be seen in the staff photo from 1986. Sr. Una Rutledge was one of the longest members of staff remaining an active part of the school community till 2002.
Senior school staff 1986
Sr. Una Rutledge
In 2002 Our Lady of the Missions announced their withdrawal from education in Ireland, to focus more on missionary work in the third world and caring for the elderly members of their congregation.
However as a result of lots of hard work carried out by staff, parents and local politicians, both the junior and secondary schools remained open under the operation of the charitable trust Notre Dame Trust Ltd. As a result of this change in ownership a new primary school was built in 2009 along with a new convent for the remaining RNDM Sisters. Some of the land located around the school was sold to developers as part of the agreement. The schools name was changed to Notre Dame School, however the caring nature the sister of RNDM brought to the school never left.
Notre Dame School, with new junior school building and all-weather pitches
I myself attended the school from 2002-2008 and found that catholic religious education was still major focus of the school with graduations of the school always taking place in the local parish church of Dundrum and founders day still being celebrated every year keeping the connection with the RNDM congregation alive and reminding students of the history of the school. Class sizes remained small and both the choir and sports were still highly emphasised in the school as they had been in the past, with new sports grounds including two all-weather pitches being built on the premises.
Notre Dame School 