The Abbey School, Tipperary 1657-Present

Founded in 1657 by Cromwellian merchant Erasmus Smith on the site of an Augustinian abbey, the present school building dating from the 1950s is the fourth school on the site .It replaced the previous building, which was a protestant boarding school until 1920. This third school was damaged by fire in 1941 .

After a long struggle to allow Roman Catholic boys take advantage of the Erasmus Smith Educational Endowment, agreement was reached in 1938 and the Christian Brothers were invited to manage the new school.
In 2000 President McAleese visited the school and unveiled a memorial marking the school’s unique history .

The Abbey continues to benefit from the endowment.