The Hevey Institute
The Hevey Institute finally opened its doors for the first time on October 20th, 1856. A momentous day in the history of the school. The local newspaper at the time, The Westmeath Guardian, marked the momentous occasion by stating
“The Hevey College lately erected in field adjoining the R.C. Chapel has been opened for the education of the poor children of Mullingar, without distinction of creed.”
The institute was made up of two separate entities: a general school for the ‘poor children resident in the parish of Mullingar’ and a Classical school. The general school was entrusted to the Irish Christian Brothers under the principalship of Br. Anthony Maxwell, while the classical school was under the control of Rev. Thomas Nulty. Subjects taught in the general school were Spelling, Reading, Writing, English, Composition, Arithmetic, Rudiments, Proportion and higher rules, Grammar, geography, History ancient and modern, book-keeping, geometry and trigonometry, linear drawing, mensuration, Globes, Navigation, Algebra, and mechanics. It’s both amazing and great how many of these subjects are still taught in the school today. (Murray, 2006)
In the general school during the 1860′s there was as many as 400 students (St. Mary’s Mullingar, 2011).
The building itself as described by the previous principal of Coláiste Mhuire is thought to be the “most aesthetically pleasing building in Mullingar, and maybe a lot further afield.” The Hevey Institute is also loved for what it represents. Its establishment in 1856 was a revolutionary statement of the new presence of education in the parish. (Murray, 2016)
The First Day
The five brave brothers who served under Br. Maxwell in 1856 were: Brothers Austin Burke, Luke Scanlon, James Manning, De Sales Murphy, and John Ennis. These five brothers along with Br. Maxwell were key in setting up the schools education system as well laying the foundations for a school ethos which still remains firmly in practice in the school today.
The General school under Br. Maxwell and the 5 initial brothers could only cope with 200 of the 300 children who turned up. Despite not being able to accommodate every child who turned up, this was still a historic day in the school’s history with its first students setting foot inside the Hevey institute. Little did Br. Maxwell and the Hevey trust know that these boys would be the first of thousands to set foot in and receive an education in Coláiste Mhuire. (Murray, 2006)
The Classical School
The Classical school, which was opened at the same time as the general school, was under the control of Rev. Thomas Nulty. In 1856 there were 8 boarders and a number of day students who would’ve paid fees of £1 per quarter. The Classical school was the ancestor of the present day Secondary school and was commonly referred to, around town and beyond, as the Latin up until the 1980’s.
In 1884 The Christian Brothers took over the running of The Classical School. It was from then right up until September 1994, when the first Lay-principal took the reigns, that The Christain Brothers oversay the running of the entire school. (Murray, 2006)
Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar 