The Ranelagh Multi Denominational National School is groundbreaking and remarkable for a plethora of reasons.
When they decided to close the St. Columba's Church of Ireland National School in 1988, a two teacher denominational outfit, the parents and teachers banded together to re-launch the school as a democratically run, multi denominational and co-educational national school, a pretty far thinking ethos for schooling when the plans were written in 1988.
The new school was originally housed in a collection of prefabs, a church hall and a caretakers house. A type of early nineties hedge school in some ways. The Department of Education granted backdated recognition for the school in 1989.
The new building was designed by O'Donnel and Tuomey architects, these guys are big boys on the scene, and they did a top notch job. The design of the school has the contrivance of being 'internal and external spaces which interlock to make one block of interdependent components.' This, obviously, reflects the philosophy of the school quite succinctly and has made the school something of a landmark on Dublin's architectural scene.
So, four stars for Ranelagh Multi Denominational National School, I can't vouch for quality of education, or anything practical like that, but the concept appeals to me greatly. Now make it a Gael scoil too, and I'll enrol all my future artsy, bleeding heart pinko progeny there tomorrow. read more