Educate Together Marks the Sad Passing of Micheal Johnston

It is with great sadness that Educate Together marks the passing of Micheal Johnston. Micheal (Mike) was a key founder of the Dalkey School Project, and of the Educate Together movement and organisation.  

A former journalist with RTÉ, Micheal Johnston co-ordinated the first parent campaign for multi-denominational education in Ireland, together with his wife Pat, Desmond Green, and Bill and Áine Hyland. Their campaign through the mid-seventies faced considerable opposition and was seen as radical, or even subversive in some quarters. Their persistent efforts, however, successfully attracted sufficient political and public support for the Dalkey School Project to be sanctioned to open in 1978. This school then proved the catalyst for a number of new multi-denominational schools and the founding of the Educate Together patron body in the following years. 

In her book, A Brave new Vision for Education in Ireland, Dalkey School Project co-founder Áine Hyland said of Micheal:  

“Micheal’s leadership and his unwavering determination throughout the first decade of the DSP was central to its success. His media skills ensured that the DSP remained in the public eye throughout the first decade and beyond. He was a convincing public speaker and his many speeches were very well crafted. He was absolutely confident that the Dalkey School Project would be a success – even if it took some time. He never gave up and was unfailingly optimistic throughout the ten years from 1974 to 1984 when the school moved to the new building in Glenageary.” 

In 2011, Trinity College Dublin conferred an honorary Doctorate on Micheal in recognition of his contribution to Irish education. Looking back at the awards ceremony on the campaign and the changes it heralded, he commented:  

“A lot of the opposition we faced was subtle. We found that we had a lot of planning problems – a lot of which were not for planning reasons! On the other hand, we also won a lot of support and there was clearly a huge demand for multi-denominational education.” 

Micheal Johnston served as chairperson of the national Educate Together organisation after it was established, and he remained an active member of the movement throughout his life. He also served as chairperson of Newpark Comprehensive School, and was very active in the rowing world, serving both as Secretary and President of Rowing Ireland, and officiating as an umpire at the Munich and Barcelona Olympics. 

Micheal’s contributions have had, and will continue to have a powerful impact on the lives of thousands of children and young people. The Educate Together network has grown steadily over the intervening years and now has 118 schools nationwide, 97 primary school and 21 second-level schools, attended by more than 41,000 students.  

Micheal’s loss is keenly felt by the friends and colleagues he made across the Educate Together community. Educate Together would like to express sincere condolences to Micheal’s wife Pat, his family and friends.