Muckross Park College

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

In previous years the transition year students of Muckross collaborated with the Transition year students of St.Michaels College in a charity fashion show. Each year the show had a different theme and was a substantial fund-raiser for that year's chosen charity.

The fashion show is no longer in action.

First, second and third years work hard towards achieving good results in their Junior Certificate Examination. Each year brings something new however it is the senior years that bring more activity and not just simply work.

Transition year consists of organising work placements several times throughout the year (some of which include the filming of an RTÉ documentary in China and working at Milan Fashion Week) as well as much more such as a school trip abroad for roughly a week. Past destinations have included Munich, Italy and Spain. Every week the students walk down to the nearby Independent Theatre Workshop studios (renowned for being one of the best in Ireland) for an hour of dance and drama classes. This is just one of many class modules (there is also cooking, horticulture, yearbook, film making, fitness and many more).

Fifth year is a year for preparing for the Leaving Certificate Examinations. However, there is also the ski trip as well as the musical with Gonzaga College.

In sixth year the pupils have much study to do, however they can also take part in the pre-debs party, mock party, graduation mass and last day celebration.

There are many clubs and activities in the school such as book club where students discuss their book of the week. There is also the choir who perform at the opening of the school year mass and various other occasions such as the Christmas evening before the school closes for Christmas. Glee club has been introduced in the last few years. It entails singing popular songs, old and new, with fresh harmonies and mash-ups.

Events during the school year include the opening of the school year mass which occurs in the beautiful Donnybrook church. The Halloween dress-up day is a fun day for all, the sports day at the end of the year is also a great day with many different sports stations to choose from. Every year gets a one- or two-day retreat as well as many more exciting things such as day trips (Ferrycarrig, museums and galleries, the Gaisce hike and Carlingford for T.Y, Newgrange etc.)

Muckross Park has a very high standard when it comes to sports teams, especially in hockey. Minor, Junior and Senior hockey teams have won many Leinster League titles. The Senior 1 team has also claimed the Senior Cup on numerous occasions. The senior basketball team "The Cadettes" are also high achievers on the competitive circuit. Other sports include cricket, handball, tennis, swimming, horse-riding and athletics, all of which Muckross consistently perform well in.

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 aim of the Union is to encourage and help past pupils to remain in contact, both with each other and with the school. This is done through their quarterly newsletter and by a number of social events such as the Annual Luncheon, the annual PPU golf outing and the Combined Dominican Union outing, Easter Egg Hunt, Past Pupils vs Present Pupils hockey match, and others.

The Muckross Adult Choir consists of past pupils, staff members and parents of current and past Muckross pupils. T

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, whatever the reason. 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 Past Pupils’ Union continues to reach out to those who are in need and who can most benefit from a contribution from the Benevolent Fund. The Fund is financed by past pupils for past pupils by way of the Annual Raffle and also through private donations.

• Nuala Carey, weather presenter on RTÉ 1 and Network 2[2]
• Emma Donoghue, author of the book "Room", shortlisted for the Man-Booker prize[3]
• Mary Rose Gearty, judge of the High Court[4]
• Gemma O'Doherty, Far right activist and former Irish journalist [5]
• Anna O'Flanagan, Irish international hockey player[6]

• School website
• Muckross Park Past Pupils Union