David Sadleir is the new Principal at the Abbey School in Tipperary town. John Kiely has taken up the role of Deputy Principal in the school after ten years as Principal. Mr Pat Donovan retired this year creating a vacancy at Deputy Principal level.
The school has an enrolment of approximately 330 students and has a rich history of providing education for the boys of West Tipperary and East Limerick. Outside of Trinity College the school is the educational establishment with the longest record of service in Ireland dating back to the foundation of an Augustinian Friary on the site in 1300.
Mr Sadleir says it is an honour to join the staff as Principal. The Holycross native secured a degree in Science at University Limerick after completing his Leaving Certificate in St. Joesph’s Secondary School, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary. Further qualifications followed during his teaching career including a Post Graduate Diploma in School Planning and Policy Development and a Master’s Degree in Education, Leadership and Management. Mr Sadlier has over 20 years of experience of working in the education sector having spent much of this time working in Villiers School, a co-educational boarding school in Limerick as a teacher of Chemistry and Mathematics. While working in Villiers School Mr Sadlier fulfilled the duties of Assistant Principal with responsibilities for facilitating School Self- Evaluation activities and acting as Year Head to the Transition Year Group. Involvement with planning and delivering the extracurricular programme in Villiers School included working in the Rugby Department and organising the annual Ski Trip to Northern Italy.
Since 2018 Mr Sadlier has also worked with the Limerick Education Support Centre and currently serves as Chairperson to the Management Committee.
Mr Sadlier, lives with his wife and three children in county Limerick, approximately 30km from Tipperary town.
The new Principal is looking forward to playing a part in the future development of The Abbey CBS – with a vision for the school to continue to provide a broad and balanced holistic educational experience where all students can experience success and strive for excellence, facilitated by a strong leadership team, exceptional teachers and diligent and caring staff.
Parents who choose The Abbey to provide an education to their sons are partners in delivering an exceptional educational experience in Tipperary town according to the new Principal.
Although the school is single sex in terms of enrolment since the late 1600’s strong links have developed with St Anne’s School in the town. This collaborative approach to curriculum planning ensures that each school can provide a diverse and quality curriculum. This initiative is mutually beneficial to both schools and welcomed by the parents of Senior Cycle students – extracurricular links are also enriched by producing a school musical jointly and jive classes also contribute to the development of student’s social skills.
The one constant in the operation of the Abbey school for over 300 years is that it provides education in a single sex male setting. In fact, Agricultural Science was specifically approved as a Leaving Certificate subject to facilitate a curriculum in The Abbey which was desirable for the boys from the local area – first examined in 1944. While there is much discussion today about the merits and demerits of single sex education, Mr Sadlier says the model means the school can really focus on providing a curriculum which meets the needs of the boys who attend The Abbey School.
The rich history of The Abbey School is detailed on the school website and can be viewed at this link here.
