Laurel Hill Coláiste

Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ (Irish: Coláiste Cnoc na Labhras), formerly known as Laurel Hill Convent, is an all-girls secondary school in Limerick, Ireland where all subjects are taught in Irish (gaelcholáiste). The school has around 400 students and has been ranked the top secondary school in Ireland for six years in a row.

Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ
Location
Limerick, Ireland
Coordinates	52.6550°N 8.6364°W / 52.6550; -8.6364
Information
Former name	Laurel Hill Convent
Type	Secondary school
Religious affiliation(s)	Catholic
Established	1840s
Founder	Marie Madeleine Victoire de Bonnault d'Houet
Gender	Girls only
Enrollment	400+ (2019)
Language	Irish
Website	laurelhillcolaistefcj.ie

History

The school was founded in the 1840s by Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) and was known as Laurel Hill Convent.^[1] In 1935 the school switched to teaching all subjects in Irish^[2][3] when there was a push by the government to revive the Irish language through schools.^[4]

Academic results

For six years straight, 2014–2019, The Sunday Times Best Schools Guide ranked Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ as the top secondary school in Ireland with 95.2% of its students going on to university.^[5][6][7]

Notable alumnae

• Neasa Hourigan, Green Party politician^{[citation needed]}
• Detta O'Cathain, Baroness O'Cathain, Irish-born British life peer^[8]
• Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer of The Cranberries^[2]
• Kate O’Brien, writer^[8]

See also

• Education in the Republic of Ireland
• Gaeloideachas — Irish national organisation supporting the development of Irish-medium immersion schools