St Mirin's Academy
Encyclopedia
St Mirin's Academy was a Roman Catholic senior secondary school
for boys founded in 1922 in Paisley
, Scotland
and dedicated to St Mirin
, the patron saint
of the town and of the Diocese of Paisley
. The original buildings were located in East Buchanan Street next to St Mirin's Church
. In 1933 the school relocated to new buildings in Renfrew Road. St Mirin's Academy ceased to exist in 1976 when it amalgamated with St Margaret's Senior Secondary (a girls' school) to become St Mirin's and St Margaret's High School.
The Academy's Latin
motto was Fortis et Fidelis ("Brave and Faithful"). There has been no school in the town of Paisley named for St Mirin since 2001.
Neil MacKinnon, the school's longest serving rector
(1948–1975), died on 7 May 2009, aged 99.
On 24 April 2010, the former St Mirin's Academy building, now part of the Reid Kerr College
complex, was badly damaged by a fire. Estimates of damages run between £250,000 and £500,000. The building was eventually demolished in October 2010.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
for boys founded in 1922 in Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and dedicated to St Mirin
Saint Mirin
Saint Mirin or Mirren, an Irish monk and missionary , is also known as Mirren of Benchor , Merinus, Merryn and Meadhrán. The patron saint of the town and Roman Catholic diocese of Paisley, Scotland, he was the founder of a religious community which grew to become Paisley Abbey...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the town and of the Diocese of Paisley
Diocese of Paisley
The Diocese of Paisley is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Erected on 25 May 1947 from the Archdiocese of Glasgow the diocese covers the historic county of Renfrewshire and is in area making it the smallest diocese by area in Scotland...
. The original buildings were located in East Buchanan Street next to St Mirin's Church
St Mirin's Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley, dedicated to Saint Mirin the patron saint of Paisley, is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Paisley and is the seat of the Bishop of Paisley.-History:...
. In 1933 the school relocated to new buildings in Renfrew Road. St Mirin's Academy ceased to exist in 1976 when it amalgamated with St Margaret's Senior Secondary (a girls' school) to become St Mirin's and St Margaret's High School.
The Academy's Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
motto was Fortis et Fidelis ("Brave and Faithful"). There has been no school in the town of Paisley named for St Mirin since 2001.
Neil MacKinnon, the school's longest serving rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
(1948–1975), died on 7 May 2009, aged 99.
On 24 April 2010, the former St Mirin's Academy building, now part of the Reid Kerr College
Reid Kerr College
Reid Kerr College is a further education college in Paisley, Renfrewshire. According to its website, it is one of the fastest growing further education institutions in Scotland with over 20,000 students, 650 staff and 300 courses....
complex, was badly damaged by a fire. Estimates of damages run between £250,000 and £500,000. The building was eventually demolished in October 2010.
Famous alumni
- Gerry RaffertyGerry RaffertyGerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
- singer, musician and songwriter - John Byrne - painter and playwright
- David HayDavid HayDavid Hay is a former Scottish footballer. After completing secondary education at St Mirin's Academy in Paisley he signed for Celtic in 1966 and became one of the so called 'Quality Street Kids', the great Celtic reserve team that also included players such as Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari, Danny...
- footballer - Joe Egan - singer, musician and songwriter
- Hugh HenryHugh HenryHugh Henry is a Scottish Labour politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Paisley South since 1999.-Background:...
- LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician - John ReidJohn Reid (music)John Reid is a Scottish manager and music industry figure, currently living and working in Australia.Between 1975 and 1978, Reid was the manager of British rock group Queen and Kevin Ayers...
- music manager - Willie Young - footballer
- James McMillanJames Francis McMillanJames Francis McMillan was a Scottish historian and author. He will be remembered as the head of the History Department of Strathclyde University ,as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and as Professor of History at Edinburgh University....
- author and historian - Fergus HallFergus HallFergus Hall is a Scottish artist, whose work has been exhibited, at among other venues, the Portal Gallery in London. A native of Paisley, he is best-known for the tarot that he created for James Bond film Live and Let Die....
- artist