Here in HCK we believe that investing in girls' education is fundamentally an issue of equity. We are very lucky to have a community that shares this view. How can we tell our girls that they can access the same opportunities as their brothers, if we don't give them the same tools to do so? This was the starting point for our campus advancement plan, Investing in Excellence, which commenced in 2013. At the time, we were planning an investment in our sports facilities and our research for that project threw up many reasons for the tendency of teenage girls to drop out of sport, and one of them was systemic; they simply didn't have the facilities that made participation easy or enjoyable. Right away that felt like something we could tackle in Holy Child Killiney. And tackle it we did. But not alone! 180 families of our students and our alumnae, were right there with us. We were astounded at the sheer goodwill and generosity we enjoyed which both encouraged us and allowed us to get on with it and deliver a brand-new Sports Hall in 2015, at a cost of €1.9 million. Within two years we had doubled the number of girls playing basketball (to add to our already strong hockey programme) and we could also offer those who preferred activity to team sport lots of options. We love it when a plan comes together. 

By 2018 we were on to Phase Two, Building Our Future, which was primarily our STEM Classrooms. Female representation in STEM careers remains significantly lower than male and in some roles is as low as 19%. With many sectors in Ireland operating in the STEM space from Tech to Pharma, and even Finance hoovering up the best Physics and Maths graduates we knew we had to get this right. The majority of girls (91%) choose subjects and careers based on how enjoyable they are and how they are taught. As educators, we influence the environment which shapes our students’ perceptions of STEM subjects and careers. We need to engender curiosity in STEM during the formative years and provide a clear link between the subjects and the potential they open to our students. Again, when we explained this to our wider community the response was overwhelming. A further 130 new families and alumnae joined the development programme, at all levels, to play their part. This was not just vital financial support, but a testament to their belief in the power of education and their commitment to fostering the next generation of young women who will excel science. On top of that we were incredibly lucky to benefit from the support of The Naughton Foundation, whose focus on all things STEM helped us to realise our ambitions and saw us through the difficult years of the pandemic. We built this STEM facility in 2022, one laboratory at a time to minimise disruption and suit our budget. During this phase we also installed a disability access lift and a new hockey pitch. The total cost of these three projects was €3.1 million. A huge achievement for a school of less than 400 students and one for which we are deeply grateful. 

In 2023 we turned our attention to the arts and social sciences. While sports and science are areas where girls need more encouragement, Art & Home Economics are subjects they already love, and take in large numbers. Therefore we need more space. Art promotes cultural awareness and empathy, builds conceptual thinking, teaches critical thinking skills including observation, reasoning, and problem-solving all of which set HCK students apart in education and the work place. This is more important than ever in this era of AI.  We will be developing an ‘Art Corridor’ which will encompass the existing art room and additional classrooms converted to a large art space with exceptional light and views and the space to store materials and display work. It will also allow our students to move around during creative periods facilitating social connectedness. We will be progressing design options with a view to development the following summer (2027). This year we have also worked with Coady’s Architects on the feasibility of various sites throughout the campus that may offer the potential to build a brand-new purpose-built facility for Home Economics, a new kitchen and design and textile room. Having reviewed many options we have now identified a location which will offer flexibility, space and minimal build disruption. We began sharing our vision for these subjects in 2023 and already we have received over 35% of the projected cost in pledges from our wider community.

In 2025 we were extraordinarily fortunate to receive the support of a donor whose generosity has made it possible to build a new gym for our students. This is an exceptionally significant gift, representing the largest philanthropic contribution in the school's history. The new facility will have a transformative impact on the lives of our girls, providing a dedicated space for physical education, sport, wellbeing, and extracurricular activities. It will enable a focus on sports performance and overall health and enhance opportunities for teamwork, leadership, and personal development. Beyond benefiting current students, the gym will strengthen the school's facilities for future generations, helping us to continue providing an outstanding educational experience and supporting the holistic development of every girl in our care. We hope to commence construction in the coming months, subject to planning. 

The HCK Meitheal embodies a deep spirit of community unity, interdependence, and mutual support. where members of the community past and present have recognised a need and come together to ensure that our students flourish. We could not be more thankful as we watch our students benefit every day from all that has been offered. 

If you would like to join us, please contact Melissa on 086 604 2849 or mharrison@holychildkilliney.ie.