Education Nation returns with Claire Kilroy as first guest
Education Nation returned this week for its second season, and it was fitting that the first guest was Claire Kilroy, CEO of the Association of Patrons and Trustees of Catholic Schools (APTCS). Her appointment in September 2025 marked a significant moment for Catholic postprimary education in Ireland, and her predecessor, Eilis Humphreys, was the podcast’s first-ever guest.
Kilroy speaks passionately about the “unique offer” and “beauty” of Catholic education. “In our schools we want everyone to embrace Gospel values and to live out the call to service,” she says. Her reflections on recent developments and APTCS’s strategic priorities reveal a sector undergoing renewal, strengthened by collaboration and guided by a clear vision for the future.
From east Galway to national leadership
Kilroy’s story begins in Caltra, east Galway, where she attended the local national school just metres from her home. After secondary school in Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, she studied home economics and biology at St Angela’s College, Sligo—subjects inspired by “wonderful teachers” who shaped her early academic interests.
Her first teaching post was in Mount Sackville Secondary School, Dublin. After a year, she returned west and worked in a series of maternity and sick leave positions. While others might have viewed this instability as a setback, Kilroy saw opportunity. She completed a diploma in PR and events management, a qualification she says “stood to me in every single job I did afterwards” and became a defining thread in her leadership style.
Her first permanent post was in Mercy Secondary School, Tuam, where her PR skills proved invaluable. The school had recently ended its boarding provision and needed to rebuild enrolment. Kilroy was tasked with establishing a PR and marketing committee and leading a new outreach strategy.
These roles immersed her in governance, senior appointments, admissions, child protection, and the complex relationship between trusteeship and patronage”
After ten years in Mercy Tuam—including two as acting deputy principal—Kilroy faced a crossroads when the substantive deputy returned. Once again, challenge became opportunity. She secured a deputy principalship in Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, a rapidly expanding ETB school. This move from the voluntary secondary sector to an ETB structure broadened her understanding of governance, policy, and system leadership. “With the experience of contrast, I learned so much about both structures,” she recalls. “It really helped me reflect on the values, the ethos and the type of leadership I wanted to be involved in.”
Her next step was into the Le Chéile Schools Trust as Ethos Leader, later becoming Head of School Services for its 100 schools. These roles immersed her in governance, senior appointments, admissions, child protection, and the complex relationship between trusteeship and patronage—experience that would prove essential for her future role.
Leading APTCS: coordination, strategy, and growth
APTCS was established in 2021 to provide a unified voice for Catholic postprimary Patrons and Trustees. Kilroy explains the distinction: the patron is responsible for ethos and governance, while the trustee owns the school property. Sometimes they are the same entity; sometimes they differ. APTCS brings them together to facilitate and coordinate policy, and to represent Catholic schools nationally.
The organisation has expanded significantly. What began with one parttime CEO and an administrative assistant now includes a fulltime CEO, a School Infrastructure Officer, a Forward Planning Officer, and parttime staff in finance and administration. Kilroy leads this team in supporting patrons and trustees across ethos, property, and finance.
The School Infrastructure Officer assists with extensions, leases, deeds, and the increasingly complex processes surrounding school building projects. “Even though the Department of Education may be footing the bill, the permission of the Patron needs to be sought if there to be any changes to the land or property,” Kilroy notes.
Faith formation and the future of Catholic ethos
One of the most significant developments this year in the sector is the creation of a Faith Formation Officer within APTCS. The emergence of this role coincides nicely with the launch of the new Vision Document for Catholic Education, approved by the Irish Episcopal Commission and due for formal release on October 16.
We want to make sure our school leaders are confident in leading a Catholic school”
The Faith Formation Officer will audit existing programmes, identify gaps, highlight good practice, and support formation providers in developing new initiatives. The role is strategic rather than operational, focused on frameworks, partnerships, and systemwide development.
Kilroy sees this as essential. Research from the Grace Project shows that school leaders increasingly need structured support in understanding and leading Catholic ethos. “It’s not something people get by osmosis anymore,” she says. “We want to make sure our school leaders are confident in leading a Catholic school.”
Collaboration across the sector
Collaboration is a recurring theme in Kilroy’s leadership. She meets monthly with counterparts in the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP), CPSMA, JMB, and the Catholic School Trusts Service of Northern Ireland. This formal structure is a new and important development, enabling unified decisionmaking and shared initiatives across the sector.
These collaborative efforts come at a busy and challenging time for Catholic schools. Kilroy welcomes the new Vision Document and highlights two major initiatives soon to be rolled out: Made for More, the new seniorcycle Religious Education curriculum framework, and Living Love Senior, a new RSE resource for postprimary schools. Both were commissioned by the Irish Bishops’ Conference and developed through extensive national consultation.
Kilroy also emphasises the importance of external relationships—with ETBs, other management bodies, and the Department of Education. “While we may have different values and priorities, we’re all working towards the same goal in terms of the delivery of quality education.”
A vision for vibrant, viable Catholic schools
Throughout the interview, Kilroy’s clarity, energy, and deep commitment to service are evident. These qualities she says were shaped by her family, and have been nurtured by her faith, and mentors such as Paul Meany, Chair of the APTCS Board, whom she describes as “a visionary leader… a great listener… wise and trustworthy.”
Her message is clear: Catholic schools have a vibrant, viable future—one built on collaboration, strong governance, renewed formation, and a confident, values-driven approach to ethos.
