The Christian Brothers began teaching in Midleton in 1867 when the then Parish Priest, responding to the requests of parishioners and his own recognition of the need for a dedicated school to educate the young men of the town, requested that the Christian Brothers establish themselves in the Parish of Midleton. Thomas Coppinger Esq. of Midleton House bequeathed a sum of £20 per annum for maintenance of the Christian Brothers in Midleton, a sum of £50 for furnishing the schools and his own private subscription of £100 towards expenses.
The first community in Midleton consisted of Brother Jerome Murphy, Director; Brothers Dominic Sinnott, Bernard Schofield, and lay brother Joseph Nolan. The original primary school, situated in the building specially built (1865-1867) for the Brothers across the road from the present campus, opened on Wednesday, 3 April 1867 with 240 boys registered. After a week the number of students had increased to 300 and rose steadily to over 400 pupils by 1 July.
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