St Paul’s principal appointed to St Mary’s University College governing body

Dáithí Murray has been appointed to serve as a member, along with Laura Leonard, Christine Magill and Garry Matthewson from February 8, 2025 for a period of five years.

Mr Murray appointed principal of St Paul’s in December 2023. Previous to his appointment as Principal, Dáithí was Vice-Principal of the school since 2015.

An Irish-language teacher, Dáithí is also an award-winning broadcaster, presenting ‘Blas’ on BBC Radio Ulster and ‘I Lár an Aonaigh’ for BBC Two NI. Dáithí previously served as a Director on the Board of the Middletown Centre from Autism between 2020 and 2023.

He does not hold any other public appointments.

St Mary's University College is a small Higher Education institution specialising in Teacher Education and Liberal Arts. It offers two Initial Teaching Education (ITE) routes including a BEd degree in either Primary or Post-primary Education and the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Irish Medium. In addition the College also offers a BA in Liberal Arts Programme, a part-time Masters-level programmes and a full-time MSc in Physical Education and Sport for Young People.

The school has its origins in a training college established in 1900 by the Dominican Sisters on the present Falls Road site for the education of women students and their preparation for teaching in primary schools. The college has developed and evolved to also include training for male students (for some years on a separate site) and preparation for teaching in secondary schools.