History of our School

The Patrician High School was established at the turn of the century to provide second level education for the sons of Catholic families in the area. The Viscount Weymouth Grammar School, since closed, was already well established to cater for the children and Church of Ireland families. Dean Birmingham, PP, invited the Patrician Brothers to the town to manage the school and gave them his own house (the building now known as the Old Monastery) for the purpose. The school was set up in one room in the house and one room in the backyard. There were eight pupils.

We have moved twice since then to accommodate increasing numbers. From the beginning, we have aspired towards academic excellence, and that tradition is proudly upheld to this day. Our pupils have succeeded in all walks of life and we believe that this success is due in no small measure to the solid grounding they received in essential subjects and to the confidence that comes from the reinforcements of the sound Christian principals by which we live.

While maintaining a proud sense of tradition of academic achievement, we have never been slow to adapt to the need of a rapidly changing world. We review our courses frequently and the school has been involved recently in the working with the Department of Education in developing new courses in Woodwork, Modern Languages and Technology. We have earned a high reputation in Inter -Schools Debating and Ulster Colleges’ Football. Since 1994 we have featured on the Ulster Colleges’ Roll of Honour on 15 occasions and won 8 Ulster Football Titles.

Our brand new building has been open since 2007. It has been many years in the making and required the dedication and hard work of many people in our community to realise this essential upgrade for the school boys of Carrickmacross. It is a superb, state-of-the-art facility, and it has contributed enormously to the teaching and learning process for all involved in our school.