Founded in 1881, it was originally based in Sydney Place in Cork city, and intended to offer an alternative to parents "who had been sending their children to England, to educate them".

Founded in 1829, it was originally based at Cook Street and South Terrace, before moving to Rochelle House (a large house also on the road to Blackrock) in 1863.

[1] The newly amalgamated co-educational school occupied the Ashton House site, from which its current name was taken.

Rochelle House was used for boarding accommodation for a period, before being sold in 1999.

[6] Between 2013 and 2015, additional facilities were developed at the school, and the original Georgian-era building was refurbished.