Coláiste Moibhí

Coláiste Moibhí was a preparatory school in Ireland providing Irish-language instruction initially for Protestant boys and girls (but later for girls only) intending to proceed to train as primary schoolteachers. Operating from 1926 to 1995, it was located just outside Shankill, County Dublin, until the premises closed when it was relocated in Rathmines, Dublin, and run by the Church of Ireland. In 1968, it became the Juniorate of the adjacent Church of Ireland College of Education, to which most pupils would graduate. It was named after Moibhí, a sixth-century saint from Kilmovee, County Mayo.

The Coláiste was one of six Irish-language preparatory schools established by the government of the newly established Irish Free State, as part of a Gaelicisation policy which required a supply of teachers fluent in Irish. It was approved by John Allen Fitzgerald Gregg, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin. In light of the growth of multidenominational schools, Coláiste Moibhí closed in June 1995 and its former premises now form the Resource Centre of the Church of Ireland Training College library.

What is also remarkable about Coláiste Móibhí is that it survived the closure of the other 5 Catholic ethos preparatory schools (2 for boys and 3 for girls) which were closed in 1961 by President Patrick Hillary when previously acting in his role as Minister for Education in the Fianna Fáil Government between 1959-1965.

References

• Jones, Valerie (2006). A Gaelic Experiment - The Preparatory System 1926–61 and Coláiste Moibhí. Dublin: The Woodfield Press.
• de Bhal, Padraig (2008). "Review". Search. Church of Ireland.
• "Tuarascáil bhliaintiúl an Roinn Oideachais 1942/43". Search. An Roinn Oideachais. 1943. http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Statistical-Report-1942-1943.pdf