School History

2 Become 1 (September 2017)

The wheel has come full circle and after sixty years the boys and girls of Allenwood once more attend a mixed school. This time however they will are mixed in the true sense of co-education with boys and girls in the one class. In 1957 the girls moved out of what is now known as the boys’ school to the girls’ school building. The boys moved up to the girls’ building for a year while renovations were taking place in the boys’ building. However the two groups were segregated at all times with the girls occupying two rooms on the right and the boys occupying the two on the left. 

The decision to amalgamate came as no great surprise as it has been a topic of conversation for many years now. In 2006 following a whole school evaluation (WSE) in the boys’ school it was recommended that both schools amalgamate. Meetings were held at that time but it was felt that the timing was not right.

With the population growing and both schools, building new classrooms the prospect of amalgamation was once again raised. On the 7^th March 2017 the boards of management of both schools met to discuss the possibility of amalgamation. There was a consensus among the staff of both schools that by pooling the resources and staff, amalgamation would provide an enhanced educational experience for the children of Allenwood. It was agreed at that meeting to issue a survey to the parents to assess the level of interest in the proposed amalgamation. The survey was sent out to the parents the following day. Following a positive result it was decided to proceed with the amalgamation.

Both boards of management along with the school principals liaised with the Department of Education to progress the merger. The Department of Education informed the Patron on the 23^rd June that the amalgamation would go ahead and that the school would reopen as a co-educational school occupying the two buildings on August 30th 2017. The amalgamated school is known as Scoil Mhuire Allenwood. The school is on one campus as the shelter and hedge between both schools was removed. All children share the same play area and there will be constant communication and co-operation between both buildings. The children are at the heart of everything we do.

Ní neart go cur le chéile / Unity is strength.

Retirement Of Patricia Keely!

We said a fond farewell to Patricia Keely and we wish her the best of luck in her retirement from Scoil Mhuire Allenwood. Patricia has worked in Allenwood Schools for 35 years. She has seen many changes during that time. She seen Allenwood GNS grow from a three teacher school in the 1980's to a six teacher school when it closed in June 2017 to amalgamate with Allenwood BNS. The new amalgamated school has 14 teachers.  We were joined by Patricia's family and there was a presentation made to her from The Board of Management, The Parents Association and the Staff. Patricia spoke fondly of  her time in Allenwood and wished the newly amalgamated school every success going forward. All in attendance retired to the staff room to chat and enjoy refreshments kindly provided by the Parents Association.  

Retirement Of Carole Fenton!

On March 26th 2021 we bid a fond farewell to our Principal Carole Fenton. As we were in Covid restrictions, all the boys & girls went outside and social distanced in their pods all around our Astro turf pitch. It was an unusual way to have to say goodbye to someone we all knew and worked with for a long time. Mrs Fenton was able to walk along the perimeter and wave to all the children. In November 1997 Mrs. Fenton arrived in Allenwood BNS and taught infants until January 2010 when she took over as Principal from Judy Curley. 

In early 2017 a decision was taken to amalgamate the boys’ and girls’ schools to bring about what has become Scoil Mhuire Allenwood with Carole taking over as Principal.  The new school was blessed and opened by Bishop Denis Nulty on October 19th, 2017 and has gone from strength to strength in that time. Carole was always first to acknowledge that she did not do the work alone and credited every member of the team in Allenwood for their work. We all thanked Mrs Fenton for her wonderful work over 23 years in Allenwood and we wished her the very best of good health and happiness in her retirement.