Cork school gets ready to mark half century

DOUGLAS Community School is set to mark its 50th anniversary this week, and principal Pat Barry shared the history of the school with The Echo ahead of their planned celebrations.

He explained that the all-boys school was originally under the patronage of the Christian Brothers, all subjects were taught through Irish and it was known as Coláiste Mhuire.

“In 1974, the Christian Brothers numbers were declining slightly, and they were needed for other work, like to go on mission work to Africa, so they handed management of the school over to a board of management.” 

He added that down through the years, there have been five principals: Seán Ó Faoláin, Pádraig Ó Riordáin, Bernard Horgan, Jim Long, and current principal - himself -  Pat Barry.

There have been four deputy principals: John L. O' Sullivan, John Ó Connell, Jim Long, and Chris Hickey, the current deputy.

“Douglas Community School is unique in that there are 97 community schools in Ireland, but only two of them are single sex, our all-boys school and an all-girls school in Cellbridge," Mr Barry continued. 

“One of main reasons that the school was set up were to provide a because broad curriculum choice and no selection, and those two ideals are still a strong part of the school today.

“It’s a very inclusive school, we welcome everybody, and have a broad curriculum,” he said, explain that they offer 17 optional subjects, well above average.

The school currently has 555 pupils, and has seen an increase just shy of 10% in the last five years.

This includes 12 students with autism, who are accommodated in two new ASD classrooms that were just opened in 2023, in line with the school’s all-inclusive nature.

On Friday January 26, the school will be hosting a celebration of the last five decades, which will be attended by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Lord Mayor of Cork City councillor Kieran McCarthy, and Ministers Michael McGrath and Simon Coveney.

Also in attendance will be past principals, deputies and board of management members, as well as principals from other schools, with Mr Barry saying they are expecting 250-300 people on the day.

They have compiled a magazine to give out on the day of the celebration with testimonials from past pupils in all walks of life who made contact with the school recently to update them on the many different paths their lives had taken after leaving Douglas Community School.

Mr Barry concluded: “I’m very proud to be principal of the school, I am in an honoured and privileged position great to be able to carry on tradition of principals before me of providing a very high standard of education, and I’m proud to be able to lead a team of wonderfully dedicated teachers.

“We would be recognised as an academic school.

"Last year we had three students get 625 points and three offered scholarships to UCC, and this tradition is ongoing.”