Ciara Murphy, Social Studies - Trinity College, contributed her memories of Stratford for the 60th Anniversary book, '60 Years A Growing', which was launched in November 2014.
Since leaving Stratford College in 2011, my student life has been full of surprises. Although in sixth year I grew to enjoy nearly every subject, I was always most interested in English and Classics, which led me to believe a career in journalism was for me.
For years I had intended on going into Psychology and training to be a counsellor, however the ‘Leaving Cert fear’ hit me in 6th Year and made me believe I would never get the points for any course I wanted in that field. Initially, I went on to study Journalism in DCU for three years and, although I felt there was a lot to learn in the course, I couldn’t help but think I was going down the wrong path. After reapplying through the CAO in 2012 and getting accepted into Social Work in Trinity College Dublin — I couldn’t be happier with my choice. Although the course itself is very challenging, I have learnt so much and grown so much through it. As well as a heavy workload on the academic side, we are also put on four placements throughout the four year course, and since enrolling I have had the pleasure of working with teenagers, the elderly, refugees and asylum seekers and persons in extremely vulnerable communities. I was even able to do an international placement in London for Jesuit Refugee Service throughout last Summer.
During my time at Stratford, I met so many wonderful people, both friends and teachers, with whom I am luckily still in close contact. The teachers in Stratford College are fabulous at their jobs; I wouldn’t be where I am now without their help and support.
Ciara Murphy
Read the 60 Years A Growing eBook for more Stratford memories.
The 1st years completed a zombie lab today where they used their scientific methods and thinking to identify patient zero from the zombie suspects. Using measuring skills, pH, observation skills and much more they successfully identified the source of the outbreak!
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The TY Horticulture class were out in the Autumn sunshine planting Spring bulbs using the chaos planting method. This is when a multitude of different spring bulbs (Hyacinths, Daffodils, Tulips, Crocuses, Narcissi) are mixed together and randomly planted so that we have a mixture of flowers and patterns emerging in the spring. It mimics nature and so is more enticing to pollinators and native insects that need the food in Spring.
Stratford is celebrating Maths Week 2026 (12th - 18th October) with daily activities around the school, at breaktimes and in Maths classes! The tutor-time daily quiz is proving to be extremely competitive as each form group tries to solve it and then run to find Ms Matthews in order to win the box of chocolates!
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