The Property Which Was to Become the Convent and School in Spanish Point Was the Former

The property which was to become the convent and school in Spanish Point was the former landlord house and lands of Captain Ellis. The Sisters of Mercy bought the property on 19th March 1929 and went on to develop it as a day and boarding secondary school for girls. As time passed the school became co-educational, the boarding school closed and the management structure changed. From the foundation of the school the Mercy ethos not only permeated the school but indeed the local community. The Mercy generosity continues to the present day with the Order granting both property and funding to be used to enhance education for the local community, the most recent being the granting of the former Chapel, and €25,000 towards its refurbishment, as a state of the art multi media facility.

In the transition to CEIST the school goes on as normal. The high point of this year was the visit of An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, who together with other dignitaries met with the school community and viewed students project work. An Taoiseach praised the very high standard of work on view in the schools annual exhibition. Another visitor to the school was Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan TD who met with the Agricultural Science class.

St Joseph’s is twinned with Clare Valley High School Australia and we were delighted to host twenty-three students, staff and parents from Clare Valley in April.

Other achievements of note during the year included a very successful fashion show, a number of fundraising events for charity, and success in competitions in Art, Music, Gaeilge, Sport and Quiz.

In the area of Policy Formation a new SPHE/RSE policy was devised and the school submitted the FETAC Quality Assurance Proposal for approval. A subject inspection also took place in the area of Home Economics.

Coinciding with the end of the Mercy era is the retirement of one of the school’s longest serving teachers Mr Heinrichs. As with CEIST we wish Mr Heinrichs every good fortune as he moves on to a new chapter.

St Joseph’s Spanish Point is proud of its origins and traditions as a Mercy school. We are grateful to the Mercy Sisters for their contribution to West Clare and look forward to retaining the Mercy ethos under CEIST.