Wilson's Hospital School

Wilson's Hospital School was founded in 1761 by Andrew Wilson as a school for young Protestant boys and also as a hospital for old men.{{cite web|url = http://www.whs.ie/Heritage.htm | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091127065226/http://www.whs.ie/Heritage.htm | archivedate = 27 November 2009 | title = About Us - Heritage | website = whs.ie | publisher = Wilson's Hospital School}} The school's main Georgian building, including its 220-seater chapel, was designed by architect John Pentland and completed between 1759 and 1761.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/news/georgian-school-chapel-to-return-to-its-former-glory-in-200-000-project-1.166479 | publisher = Irish Times | website = irishtimes.com | title = Georgian school chapel to return to its former glory in £200,000 project | date = 25 March 1999 | accessdate = 2 September 2022 }}{{cite web|url = http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WM®no=15401120 | website = buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Wilson's Hospital School, Heathland, Multyfarnham, Westmeath | accessdate = 2 September 2022 }} It is listed, together with other structures on the grounds, on the Record of Protected Structures for County Westmeath.

The school grounds were the site of a battle preceding the Battle of Ballinamuck during the 1798 rebellion in which 150–300 rebels were killed.{{cite web|url = http://www.iol.ie/~98com/events.htm | work = 1798 National Visitor Centre | title = 1798 - Calendar of Events | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050205083523/http://www.iol.ie/~98com/events.htm | archivedate = 5 February 2005 | via = iol.ie}}

Over time the school ceased functioning as a hospital but still retained this title within its name. Operating as an all-boys school for 200 years, it became co-educational in 1969 when it was amalgamated with the Preston School from Navan which was established by John Preston in 1686. This connection is reflected in the name of a newer classroom block, The Preston Building.

In September 2022, the High Court ordered the jailing of a suspended teacher, Enoch Burke, for refusing to comply with a court order preventing him from attending the school.{{Cite web |title=Court orders arrest of Enoch Burke for alleged contempt |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2022/09/02/court-orders-arrest-of-enoch-burke-for-alleged-contempt/ |date=2 September 2022 |access-date=2 September 2022 |publisher=The Irish Times |website = irishtimes.com }}{{cite web|url = https://www.thejournal.ie/enoch-burke-court-2-5857873-Sep2022/ | publisher = Journal Media Ltd | website = thejournal.ie | title = Teacher Enoch Burke sent to prison after being found guilty of contempt of court | date = 6 September 2022 | accessdate = 6 September 2022 }} This followed his rejection of disciplinary procedures after reputedly interrupting school business to object to its guidelines on addressing transgender students.{{Cite web |last=O'Faolain |first=Aodhan |date=30 August 2022 |title=Court injunction against teacher Enoch Burke attending school after he opposed addressing student with pronoun 'they' |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/court-injunction-against-teacher-enoch-burke-attending-school-after-he-opposed-addressing-student-with-pronoun-they-41947855.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=independent |language=en}} After a disciplinary hearing in January 2023, Burke was dismissed from his role at the school.{{cite web| url = https://www.thejournal.ie/enoch-burke-dismssed-school-5974939-Jan2023/ | publisher = Journal Media Ltd | website = thejournal.ie | title = Burke family says Enoch Burke formally dismissed from teaching role | date = 20 January 2023 | accessdate = 20 January 2023}}

The school caters for approximately 400 students. While many of the school's students are boarders, a number of day pupils also attend the school.{{cite web|url = http://www.schooldays.ie/school/wilsons-hospital-school-rollnumber-63300Q | website = schooldays.ie | title = Wilson's Hospital School | accessdate = 23 August 2014}} As the diocesan secondary school of the Diocese of Meath and Kildare, Wilson's Hospital School operates under a Church of Ireland ethos.{{cite web| website = whs.ie | title = About Us - Ethos | url = http://www.whs.ie/Ethos.htm | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091127065215/http://www.whs.ie/Ethos.htm | archivedate = 27 November 2009 | publisher = Wilson's Hospital School }}

The school operates a five-day boarding week and teaching schedule. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a seven-day boarding week which allowed boarders the option of returning home at weekends or remaining at the school to avail of the weekend activity programmes.{{fact|date=September 2022}} Academically, the school offers a range of subjects up to higher Leaving Certificate standard.{{cite web |url = http://demo5.schoolspace.ie | website = demo5.schoolspace.ie | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130428104251/http://demo5.schoolspace.ie/ | archivedate = 28 April 2013 | title = Welcome to Wilson's Hospital School }}

Wilson's Hospital fields schoolboy rugby teams in "Section A" of the Leinster Branch's schools competitions.{{cite web|url = http://www.wilsonshospitalschool.com/index.php/extra-curricular/sports/rugby13 | website = wilsonshospitalschool.com | title = Extra-Curricular - Rugby | accessdate = 2 September 2022 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2022/03/29/fr-godfrey-plate-success-for-wilsons-hospital-school-side/ | publisher = Westmeath Examiner | website = westmeathexaminer.ie | title = Fr Godfrey Plate success for Wilson's Hospital School side | date = 29 March 2022 | accessdate = 2 September 2022 }} Former sportspeople, associated with the school, include Andrew Thompson and Joe Schmidt (who coached at the school in the 1990s).{{cite web|url = https://www.the42.ie/andrew-thompson-shannon-ail-5072453-Apr2020/ | publisher = Journal Media Ltd | work = the42.ie | title = 'I was blessed to join Shannon at that time. The crowds in the AIL were massive' | date = 12 April 2020 | accessdate = 2 September 2022 }}

The school also fields hockey teams, and has a "partnership" with Mullingar Hockey Club.{{cite web|url = https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2022/06/02/principal-mrs-mcshane-leaving-wilsons-hospital-school/ |publisher = Westmeath Examiner | website = westmeathexaminer.ie | title = Principal Mrs McShane leaving Wilson's Hospital School | date = 2 June 2022 | accessdate = 2 September 2022 }}

• Enoch Burke, former teacher
• Homan Potterton, attended the Preston School in Navan which was later to become Wilson's Hospital{{Cite news |title=Living in a state of siege |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/living-in-a-state-of-siege-1.337856 |access-date=2023-08-22 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}
• Joe Schmidt, former rugby coach at the school
• Andrew Thompson, rugby player and former student

{{Reflist}}

• {{official | http://www.wilsonshospitalschool.com/ }}

{{Private schools in the Republic of Ireland}}

{{Irish hospitals}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Secondary schools in County Westmeath

Category:Private schools in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Anglican schools in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Educational institutions established in 1761

Category:Hospitals established in the 1760s

Category:1761 establishments in Ireland