The Kings Hospital School 350th Anniversary Documentary

In 2019 The King's Hospital School celebrated its 350th Anniversary. The first in its series of 350th commemoration events was a Service of Celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral - complete with archival display of the school’s long and storied history. Followed by an Art Exhibit, Gala Concert and BlueCoat Day - an outdoor event in May for the entire school community, past, present and future.
This documentary shot over six months, introduces you to life at The King's Hospital School, our ethos and values and shows you why 'we are more than a school'
The King’s Hospital School was founded in 1669. It opened in Queen Street in 1675. In 1783, it moved to a new building at Blackhall Place, which is now home to the Law Society of Ireland.
Between 1957 and 1966, The King’s Hospital acquired two small schools - Morgan’s and Mercer’s - which contributed to a growth in pupil numbers and a need for additional space. In 1970, the school made a final move - relocating to an 80-acre site on the banks of the River Liffey at Brooklawn in Palmerstown, Co Dublin.
Known for much of its history as The Blue Coat School, it is one of the oldest secondary schools in Ireland.
That it survived and thrived down through the centuries is testament to its tremendous resilience and leadership. The King’s Hospital School weathered many historical, political and financial storms.
Many of our well-known past-pupils feature in this documentary, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar,