St Raphaela’s celebrates a Golden Year in Stillorgan

A WONDERFUL night was enjoyed by all as over 200 past pupils and teachers converged on St Raphaela’s Secondary School in Stillorgan recently to help celebrate its Golden Jubilee.

Formerly known as Marillac Secondary School, St Raphaela’s is a non-fee paying secondary school for girls that first opened its doors in September 1965 with 25 pupils and four teachers. Today it has over 500 pupils.  

The special guest was former pupil, the Honourable Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne of the Supreme Court of Ireland, who spoke with great affection and humour of her time at the school and helped to unveil a plaque commemorating the occasion.

Ms Dunne especially thanked one of her former teachers, Miss Joan Stokes, who was also present, saying that she “owed her career to her”.

Other speakers with stories and some very amusing anecdotes to relate were current principal Eileen O’Donnell, who joined the school 29 years ago; Sr Phyllis Lee, the school’s first principal; Mary Donohue, who represented the class of 1970, the first year to graduate, and another former principal, Sr Catherine Leonard.

Principal Eileen O’Donnell thanked everyone who was involved in making the evening a success and spoke about the school’s aim to create an inclusive learning community where every student can flourish.

“This year the concept of ‘The Growth Mindset’ has captured the imagination of the senior management team and we have rolled it out to the school,” she said. 

“Students are learning that the brain grows when we engage with challenge.

“It ensures that students continue to strive for their goals. It is a way of thinking that has something to offer everyone.”