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St. Francis Special School

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Whitefield, Beaufort, Killarney, County Kerry

St. Francis Special School

St. Francis Special School is dedicated to providing the highest quality, care and education of pupils under our instruction. In partnership with the Parents/Guardians, Families and/or Residential Personnel of our Pupils, we seek to promote individual intellectual, emotional, social, physical and spiritual development. The dignity of each child is maintained at a premium, thus ensuring equality of provision. We believe that each child is entitled to an appropriate educational provision, regardless of individual levels of attainment and functioning. While enabling each Pupil to develop his/her potential to the full, we also want our pupils to be happy in school and to enjoy their time in our care.
 

overview

We are a Special School for children from the ages of 4 to 19 years with moderate to severe and profound learning difficulties.

where your money goes

The money raised goes directly to the school and provision of services, resources and facilities four our beautiful children.

history

The Franciscan Sisters built St. Mary of the Angels and Francis Special School on the farm of the late Denis and Mary Doyle of Whitefield, Beaufort, Co Kerry. The couple had only one child, a daughter by the name of Mary Rose Doyle. In 1964, Mary Rose decided to enter a convent and in that same year her parents Denis and Mary donated their entire farm to the Franciscan sisters. The nuns resided in the original farmhouse throughout their stay in Beaufort.

The initial intention of the Sisters was to set up a home for elderly and retired priests. After some reflection and on advice from the Bishop of Kerry, it was decided that there was a greater need for a residential facility for physically and intellectually challenged children. On October 1966, Bishop Moynihan laid the foundation stone for the building formally known as St. Mary of the Angels, now known as St. John of Gods Kerry Services, Beaufort. Later, with the support and generosity of the people of Kerry, a sixty bed residential facility was formally opened for children with multiple levels of disability. Initially, the nuns had to depend on voluntary donations from the generous people of Kerry for the upkeep of the building. For many years, this residential facility was the only one of its kind in the county.

Gift Donations

Make a donation as a gift on behalf of someone special by clicking below.

Following your donation, you will receive a Gift Donation Certificate, which you can send to the person that you made the donation on behalf of, or print for yourself.

The Gift of €25

The Gift of €25

Donate €25 on behalf of someone special, and give them a gift that keeps on giving

The Gift of €50

The Gift of €50

Donate €50 on behalf of someone special, and give them a gift that keeps on giving

The Gift of €100

The Gift of €100

Donate €100 on behalf of someone special, and give them a gift that keeps on giving

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