# Muckross Park College

Muckross Park College (Irish: Páirc Mhucrois) is a non fee paying Catholic secondary school for girls, located in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1900 and is one of a number of Dominican schools in Ireland. As of 2021, it has a student body of 708.
The school is active in many sports and sports tournaments, including in hockey, tennis, and basketball. Some former students have gone on to play for Ireland at the international level. Academically, the school has achieved high results and ranked highly in The Irish Times list of feeder schools for 3rd level education in Ireland.

## History

The school was founded in 1900 as St. Mary's University College, which was initially a third-level college for women studying for degrees awarded by the Royal University of Ireland.

## Junior and senior years

First, second and third years undertake the Junior Cycle curriculum in preparation for the Junior Certificate Examination.
Transition year (TY) consists of organising work placements several times throughout the year, as well as much more such as a school trip abroad. Every week, TY students undertake dance and drama classes at the nearby Independent Theatre Workshop studios. Other class modules include cooking, horticulture, yearbook, film making, and fitness.
Fifth year is spent preparing students for the Leaving Certificate Examinations. However, students also take part in a ski trip as well as a musical with Gonzaga College.
In Sixth Year, students do their Leaving Certificate Examinations. They may also take part in a pre-debs party, a mock party, and graduation mass.

## Clubs and events

There are many clubs and activities in the school, including a book club. There is also a school choir, and a glee club has been introduced in the last few years.
Events during the school year include the opening of the school year mass which occurs in Donnybrook church. Other events include a Halloween dress-up day, and a sports day towards the end of the year. Every year gets a one or two full day retreat as well as day trips (Ferrycarrig, museums and galleries, the Gaisce hike and Carlingford for T.Y, Newgrange etc.)
In previous years, transition year students at Muckross collaborated with transition year students of St. Michaels College in a charity fashion show. The show had different themes each year, and was a fundraiser for that year's chosen charity. The fashion show is no longer in action.

## Sports

Muckross Park fields hockey teams at Minor, Junior and Senior levels, and has won many Leinster League titles. The Senior 1 team has also claimed the Senior Cup on several occasions. The senior basketball team, "The Cadettes", have also won multiple times. Other sports include cricket, handball, tennis, swimming, horse-riding and athletics.

## Past Pupils' Union

The Past Pupils' Union (PPU) began in 1912, twelve years after the school was founded. This makes it the oldest all-girls Past Pupils Union in Ireland. The Muckross Adult Choir consists of past pupils, staff members and parents of current and past Muckross pupils.
The Union also fundraises for its Benevolent Fund, which is used to grant financial assistance to those in need. The Muckross Park Past Pupils' Union Benevolent Fund was set-up during the tenure of the 1977/79 committee with the primary objective of helping past pupils who find themselves in financial difficulty. Over the years, the Fund has been used to support past pupils who have been impacted by serious illness, disability, bereavement, and unemployment. The Fund has also supported the education of students in need and other charitable causes deemed appropriate at the discretion of the committee, such as a Dominican early-learning programme in South Africa and a Dominican third-level project in Argentina. The fund is financed by way of an annual raffle and also through private donations.

### Notable alumnae

* Anna O'Flanagan, Irish international hockey player
* Beatrice Doran, former chief librarian at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
* Dara Fitzpatrick, Irish Coastguard helicopter pilot
* Emma Donoghue, author of the book "Room", shortlisted for the Man-Booker prize
* Gemma O'Doherty, Far right activist and former Irish journalist
* Mary Rose Gearty, judge of the Irish High Court
* Máire Ní Chinnéide, Irish Language Activist, playwright, first president of the Camogie Association, and first female president of Oireachtas na Gaeilge
* Nuala Carey, weather presenter on RTÉ
* Séana Ó Rodaigh, former mayor of Fingal County Council
* Síofra O'Leary, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights