It was known as a nursery of teachers for the Church of Ireland training college and for the proficiency of the Irish language among students.

[1] The vision for the school was set out in the will of William Conolly: "to be laid out by them a convenient building in or near to the town of Celbridge in the county of Kildare on such spot of ground as shall be set out for them for that purpose by my said dear wife and nephew for the reception of forty orphans or other poor children.” It was developed from 1733–7 by Katherine Conolly, who gave £50 a year for its maintenance during her life.

It was designed by architect Thomas Burgh who also built the Royal Barracks and famous library building at Trinity College both in Dublin on fifty acres of land to accommodate forty female who were to be "lodged, clothed and dieted" there.

[2] The aim of this charity school was to rescue children of the "poor natives from ignorance and superstition" and instruct them in "the English tongue, in manners and in the Protestant faith."

Students were employed on the farm and they carried on linen and hempen manufacture through all stages from seed, to loom, to bleaching.