Wilson's Hospital School
Wilson's Hospital School is a Church of Ireland, co-educational boarding school located in a protected Georgian building in Multyfarnham, County Westmeath, Ireland, outside of Mullingar.[2][3] Founded in 1761, it is "Westmeath's oldest school".[4]
Wilson's Hospital School | |
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![]() Main school building in 2006 | |
Location | |
Ireland | |
Coordinates | 53.612°N 7.417°W |
Information | |
School type | Boarding school |
Motto | Res Non Verba (Deeds, not words) |
Founded | 1761 |
Founder | Andrew Wilson |
Enrollment | 410[1] (2019) |
History
Wilson's Hospital School was founded in 1761 by Andrew Wilson as a school for young Protestant boys and also as a hospital for old men.[5] The school's main Georgian building, including its 220-seater chapel, was designed by architect John Pentland and completed between 1759 and 1761.[6][7] It is listed, together with other structures on the grounds, on the Record of Protected Structures for County Westmeath.[3]
The school grounds were the site of a battle preceding the Battle of Ballinamuck during the 1798 rebellion in which 150–300 rebels were killed.[7][8]
Over time the school ceased functioning as a hospital but still retained this title within its name.[2] Operating as an all-boys school for 200 years, it became co-educational in 1969 when it was amalgamated with the Preston School from Navan which was established by John Preston in 1686.[5] This connection is reflected in the name of a newer classroom block, The Preston Building.[5]
In September 2022, the High Court ordered the jailing of a suspended teacher, Enoch Burke, for refusing to comply with a court order preventing him from attending the school.[9][10] This followed his rejection of disciplinary procedures after reputedly interrupting school business to object to its guidelines on addressing transgender students.[11] Sanctioning his release in December 2022, the High Court judge noted that the teacher was "exploiting his imprisonment for his own ends".[12] Following a disciplinary hearing in January 2023, the teacher was dismissed from his role at the school.[13]
Teaching
The school caters for approximately 400 students.[1] While many of the school's students are boarders, a number of day pupils also attend the school.[2][14] As the diocesan secondary school of the Diocese of Meath and Kildare, Wilson's Hospital School operates under a Church of Ireland ethos.[15]
The school operates a five-day boarding week and teaching schedule. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a seven-day boarding week which allowed boarders the option of returning home at weekends or remaining at the school to avail of the weekend activity programmes. Academically, the school offers a range of subjects up to higher Leaving Certificate standard.[16]
Sport
Wilson's Hospital fields schoolboy rugby teams in "Section A" of the Leinster Branch's schools competitions.[17][18] Former sportspeople, associated with the school, include Andrew Thompson and Joe Schmidt (who coached at the school in the 1990s).[4][19]
The school also fields hockey teams, and has a "partnership" with Mullingar Hockey Club.[20]
Notable people
- Enoch Burke, former teacher[13]
- Homan Potterton, attended the Preston School in Navan which was later to become Wilson's Hospital[21]
- Joe Schmidt, former rugby coach at the school[4]
- Andrew Thompson, rugby player and former student[19]
References
- "Subject Inspection Report - Wilson's Hospital School". gov.ie. Department of Education. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Iconic school looking to the next 250 years". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 - Volume 8 - Record of Protected Structures" (PDF). Westmeath County Council. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Stint at a Westmeath school changed Joe Schmidt's life". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "About Us - Heritage". whs.ie. Wilson's Hospital School. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009.
- "Georgian school chapel to return to its former glory in £200,000 project". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 25 March 1999. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Wilson's Hospital School, Heathland, Multyfarnham, Westmeath". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "1798 - Calendar of Events". 1798 National Visitor Centre. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005 – via iol.ie.
- "Court orders arrest of Enoch Burke for alleged contempt". irishtimes.com. The Irish Times. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Teacher Enoch Burke sent to prison after being found guilty of contempt of court". thejournal.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- O'Faolain, Aodhan (30 August 2022). "Court injunction against teacher Enoch Burke attending school after he opposed addressing student with pronoun 'they'". independent. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- Carolan, Mary (21 December 2022). "Judge releases Enoch Burke from prison on 'open-ended basis'". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- "Burke family says Enoch Burke formally dismissed from teaching role". thejournal.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- "Wilson's Hospital School". schooldays.ie. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- "About Us - Ethos". whs.ie. Wilson's Hospital School. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009.
- "Welcome to Wilson's Hospital School". demo5.schoolspace.ie. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013.
- "Extra-Curricular - Rugby". wilsonshospitalschool.com. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Fr Godfrey Plate success for Wilson's Hospital School side". westmeathexaminer.ie. Westmeath Examiner. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "'I was blessed to join Shannon at that time. The crowds in the AIL were massive'". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Principal Mrs McShane leaving Wilson's Hospital School". westmeathexaminer.ie. Westmeath Examiner. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- "Living in a state of siege". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 August 2023.