Parish records show that in November 1850, a builder named Denis Rourke began work on building Male and Female National Schools in Rathdrum, on the site of the present Rathdrum Boys’ NS. In 1860, Fr Galvin, as Manager of the schools, applied to Earl Fitzwilliam, who agreed to give £6 per year to the Master of the Male NS and £4 per year to the Mistress of the Female NS – no equal pay back then!! 

In 1869, the Female NS transferred to St Michael’s Convent School, as the building of the St Brigid’s Convent and the adjoining schools was complete and the Sisters of Mercy had taken up residence. They had come from Athy, under the leadership of Mother Theresa Maher.

Our Lady’s School, Clochar Muire in Irish, was built in 1939 and replaced St Michael’s Convent School. It consisted of four classrooms and, unusually for its size, it also contained a cookery kitchen where classes were held in cookery and laundry. The steel doors where the ovens were kept are still present to this day and laundry and cookery roll books are on file within the school.

In 1998, the last Sister of Mercy, Sr Thomasina Finn, left the Our Lady’s School. While this ended 130 years of involvement by the Sisters of Mercy in education in Rathdrum, the school was in safe hands, with Mrs. Breda Sheehan as the first lay Principal. Mrs. Breda Sheehan spent 26 successful years  as Principal, retiring in 2022. 

At present, there is a staff of 9 teachers, 6 mainstream class teachers and two special education teachers, a HSCL position, as well as a part-time EAL teacher and number of ancillary staff.

We are incredibly proud of the History of Our Lady’s School which created a solid foundation for our present school.