education

December 16, 2025

Inside Ireland’s First Classical Academy

Founded by Cantillon-Murphy, his wife Grace, and other interested parents, Mater Dei opened in 2020 with 12 students. Today, some 60 students in secondary school, the equivalent of grades 7-12 in the United States, sit in its classrooms, where they receive lessons in the Catholic faith, Irish and the history and literature of Ireland, science and math, and a classical education. Additional students are enrolling in the school’s online and homeschooling courses or ordering its materials, which also cover the primary grades.

Inside Ireland’s First Classical Academy

TL;DR

  • Mater Dei Academy, founded in 2020, is the first independent classical school in Ireland.
  • It offers a curriculum encompassing Catholic faith, Irish history and literature, science, math, and classical education.
  • The school was established by parents, including Padraig and Grace Cantillon-Murphy, disillusioned with the decline of traditional values and academic standards in the Irish education system.
  • Mater Dei utilizes elements from American classical homeschooling programs and receives support from the Saints and Scholars Foundation.
  • The academy emphasizes critical thinking, public speaking, and personal formation over vocational training.
  • The school is seeking a significant investment to accommodate its growing student population and expand its facilities.

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