On behalf of the Patron, Dom. Malachy Thompson, and the Board of Management, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Catherine Smyth as the new Principal of Cistercian College.

Ms. Smyth has been a member of the teaching staff at Cistercian College for the past 27 years. For over seven of those years she has served with disMncMon as Deputy Principal, and for the past two years she has provided steady and capable leadership as AcMng Principal. Throughout her career, she has shown unwavering dedicaMon to her students, her colleagues, and to the life of the school. Her authenMc leadership, courage to lead change, pragmaMsm, humility, and determinaMon to guide the College into the future make this a truly well-deserved appointment.

This appointment follows a lengthy, compeMMve, and rigorous selecMon process undertaken by the Board of Management to ensure that the right candidate was chosen to lead the College at this important Mme. The calibre of candidates reflected the significance of the role, making Ms. Smyth’s appointment all the more deserved, and the panel was unanimous in its strong endorsement of her. The process was chaired by Ms. Vivienne Dunne, an independent panel member, Chair of the Board of Management at Gonzaga College and former CEO of the Spiritan EducaMon Office, who also works with the JMB on naMonal procedures for the recruitment of school leaders, alongside Mr. MarMn Mullen, Ms. Inez Heenan, the President Mr. Colm Maloney, and myself.

As Principal, Ms. Smyth will work closely with the College President, Mr. Colm Maloney, the Senior Management Team, teachers, housemasters, and staff to guide Cistercian College into the next exciMng stage of its history. She will lead the teaching and learning at the College into a new future, as the school begins its transiMon to co-educaMon. This is a significant and historic moment for our school community, and we are confident that under Ms. Smyth’s leadership, Cistercian College will conMnue to thrive and grow while remaining true to its ethos and values.

We warmly congratulate Ms. Smyth on her appointment and look forward to supporMng her as she takes on this important role.

Mr. Kevin Keegan
Chair, Board of Management , Cistercian College.