The origins of the current school comes from the small School for Arts and Crafts which was founded by the monks of Glenstal in 1928. A secondary school for boys was opened in September 1932. Fr Columba Skerret OSB was the Headmaster, and there were only seven boys who attended the school.
However, the actual founding father of the school was Fr Matthew Dillon OSB, who was the Headmaster twice – from 1937-1948 and from 1953 to 1961. During his first time as the Headmaster he increased the number of students from the initial less than twenty to over one hundred.
From these shy beginnings the school has grown and developed significantly. As the school has grown, it has spread beyond the borders of the original Barrington castle. Modern dormitories and refectories, a large Sports Hall and state-of-the art computing facilities all together ensure that our school is still a vibrant and far-reaching boarding school.
There are four main approaches to Glenstal Abbey:
(a) From Dublin/Limerick/Shannon (west)
Coming from Dublin along the main Limerick road (N7), by-pass Nenagh. Go
through Birdhill until you come to a roundabout, take the turn for
Cappamore and Limerick. Pass by Finnegan’s pub on the left, take the
first turn on the left and the road is well sign-posted to both Murroe
and Glenstal Abbey, about six miles from the main road.
Coming from Limerick along the main Dublin road, pass over the new bridge at Annacotty and take the turn to the right, following the sign-post for Glenstal Abbey.
(b) From Waterford/Fermoy/Tipperary (south)
Coming from Waterford, pass through Tipperary and take the road for
Limerick. Seventeen miles from Tipperary turn right at Boher, and
Glenstal Abbey is five miles from the main road.
Coming from Fermoy, pass through Caherconlish, and then turn right two miles further on, to join the main Limerick-Waterford road. One mile from this turn you will see a turn to the left at Boher, which takes you directly to Glenstal Abbey, following the signs.
(c) From Thurles/Newport/Toomevara (north)
Take the road out of Newport sign-posted Cappamore/Cork. Four miles on
you come to a Five Road junction. Turn sharp left and you come to
Glenstal Abbey less than half a mile away.
(d) From Cashel/Cappamore (east)
Take the Limerick Road out of Cappamore, turning right at the top of the
village. Three miles along this road turn right again to Murroe. Pass
through village of Murroe, and Glenstal Abbey is on the right.
SCHOOL TRAVEL
There is a good railway service from Dublin and Cork to Limerick City
(11 miles) or to Limerick Junction (15 miles). The school organises a
shuttle service between Glenstal and Limerick Junction for weekends off
and holidays. Depending on demand, chartered bus services are sometimes
operated to Galway, Waterford and other destinations. All taxi, bus and
train travel is co-ordinate by the School Administrator, Ruth Healy.