The school is active in many sports and sports tournaments, including in hockey, tennis, and basketball.[3] Some former students have gone on to play for Ireland at the international level. Academically, the school has achieved high results and ranked highly in The Irish Times list of feeder schools for 3rd level education in Ireland.[4]
History
The school was founded in 1900 as St. Mary's University College, which was initially a third-level college for women studying for degrees awarded by the Royal University of Ireland.
In Sixth Year, students do their Leaving Certificate Examinations. They may also take part in a pre-debs party, a mock party, and graduation mass.[citation needed]
Clubs and events
There are many clubs and activities in the school, including a book club. There is also a school choir, and a glee club has been introduced in the last few years.[when?][citation needed]
Events during the school year include the opening of the school year mass which occurs in Donnybrook church.[citation needed] Other events include a Halloween dress-up day, and a sports day towards the end of the year.[citation needed] Every year gets a one or two full day retreat as well as day trips (Ferrycarrig, museums and galleries, the Gaisce hike and Carlingford for T.Y, Newgrange etc.)[citation needed]
In previous years, transition year students at Muckross collaborated with transition year students of St. Michaels College in a charity fashion show. The show had different themes each year, and was a fundraiser for that year's chosen charity.[citation needed] The fashion show is no longer in action.[citation needed]
Sports
Muckross Park fields hockey teams at Minor, Junior and Senior levels, and has won many Leinster League titles. The Senior 1 team has also claimed the Senior Cup on several occasions.[citation needed] The senior basketball team, "The Cadettes", have also won multiple times.[citation needed] Other sports include cricket, handball, tennis, swimming, horse-riding and athletics.[citation needed]
Past Pupils' Union
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.[citation needed] The Muckross Adult Choir consists of past pupils, staff members and parents of current and past Muckross pupils.[citation needed]
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. 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 fund is financed by way of an annual raffle and also through private donations.[citation needed]
