Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ in the city of Limerick, Ireland, celebrates its 180th anniversary. FCJ Sisters attended the festivities and Sr Bríd fcJ writes about the event.
The year 2025 marks the 180th anniversary of the FCJ Sisters moving to Laurel Hill, Limerick, in June 1845. The Sisters had come to Ireland in February 1843 and established a community in Oughterard, Co Galway, an Irish speaking country town in the west of Ireland. As there were boarding schools already established in Galway, this was not a possibility for Marie Madeleine d’Houët, FCJ foundress (1871-1858). Normally, a boarding school was established side by side with schools for less well-off students to share out the costs involved.
Following an invitation, the Sisters moved to Limerick in 1844. They first lived in a small house in Victoria Terrace, South Circular Road and then in the Crescent. Finally, a more permanent property in Laurel Hill was purchased in 1845.
Ireland in 1845 was a very different place the Ireland of today 2026. Yet in all the 180 years in between, Laurel Hill has aimed to provide an education and formation for each student in a way that was relevant for the society, culture and world in which they lived and into which they would live and work, making their own distinctive contribution. Over these 180 years while there have been many changes, education has remained the central mission, the work, the raison d’être of Laurel Hill.
Present Student Celebrations
On Thursday 19 and Saturday 21 March, the FCJ Secondary School marked this Jubilee. On the morning of Thursday 19 March, the students at Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ were joined by students from FCJ Secondary School, Bunclody, for a Camogie match, which the visitors won. Following the creation of ceramic flowers and lunch, the students from both schools were joined by Laurel Hill Coláiste for a concert. Each school shared their vocal and musical talents, providing a creative affirmation that music and song were alive and well in the FCJ Schools in Ireland. The companionship and sharing among the students of the three schools affirmed the bond of unity that the FCJ charisma and spirit brings to the schools.
Former Student Celebration
On Saturday 21 March, the school opened its doors to former students and guests. For many, this was a journey down memory lane. When visiting favourite haunts and rooms in the building, memories from the past were shared and re-lived. Story-boards and memorabilia and videos shared the story of these 180 years in visual form. These leave us with a memento of the many significant moments and events in the history of the FCJ Secondary and Boarding School in Laurel Hill.
At the Strand Hotel in Limerick city, over 200 gathered for a prayer and a celebratory meal. The prayer was a reminder of the Sisters who have gone before us as a student sang, We are Standing on the Shoulders, while the list of deceased Sisters was shared on screen. This was interspersed with musical entertainment from both present and former students. entertainment from the present students in the afternoon. Between the conversations and reunions which continued all afternoon, there was a great sense of gratitude and appreciation from the former students for all they had received while in school in Laurel Hill. They felt that the education and faith formation they received prepared them educationally for life and helped to ground their faith in a way that has endured throughout the intervening years.
The school Principals in recent years were: FCJ Sisters Raphael Conran, Loretta Hannon, Mary Joseph Laffan, Madeleine Ryan, Gerardine Curran, and Margaret Quirke, Mr Adrian Cantilon, Mr Michael Cregan and presently, Mr James Collins. All have made their own unique contribution to the continuance of a wholistic education and faith formation in Laurel Hill.
Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ celebrated 90 years of their school in November 2025
FCJ Community Celebration
Ten FCJ Sisters were able to be present for the morning and afternoon celebrations. Sr Geraldine fcJ, the local leader, continues to be part of the school community for prayer and significant events. In the evening the FCJ Sisters, who were able to be present in Limerick joined the Maryville community, Laurel Hill, to mark this special occasion for the FCJ Sisters. The events of the two days were shared by those who had attended them, as well as a sharing by all, of the many memories that each one held of their connection with Laurel Hill during these years.
Over the 180 years, Laurel Hill has the extraordinary hallmark of having educated five of the thirteen General Superiors of the FCJ Society:
- Sister Philomena Higgins 1914-1948
- Raphael Conran, 1966-1975
- Breda O’Farrell, 1975-1993
- Katherine Mary O‘Flynn, 2003-2013; and
- Patricia Binchy, 2025-2031
This happy gathering of FCJ Sisters closed with a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of Marie Madeleine and our earlier Sisters who lived through many difficulties and troubles to establish the FCJ Community and School in Laurel Hill. Sr Margaret Quirke, herself a former Principal of the Secondary school and presently in Maryville, did the honours by cutting the Jubilee Cake.
Read some news about Laurel Hill Secondary on our website.
Read more about the history of Laurel Hill:
