It has produced a number of politicians, journalists, Irish sports personalities, broadcasters and two winners of the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe.

St Patrick's Classical School was founded in 1930 when the Diocese of Meath's seminary, St. Finian's College, which had previously been the main provider of denominational education for boys locally, moved from Navan to the new diocesan capital, Mullingar in County Westmeath.

[citation needed] In March 2013, the Irish Independent newspaper published a "lifestyle" article in which the writer described St Patrick's Classical School as the town's "most prestigious" secondary school, which runs a waiting list of more than 200 students.

[citation needed] Among the school's ex-pupils are James Tully, the Labour Party Deputy Leader and Irish government minister in the 1970s and early 1980s; Jim Fitzsimons, a longtime Fianna Fáil Member of the European Parliament; Jim Duffy, a journalist; Simon Cumbers, a broadcast journalist killed by al-Qaeda in 2004; David Beggy, a Gaelic footballer turned rugby player; David Gough, that sport's first openly gay elite referee; comedians Dylan Moran, Tommy Tiernan and Michael Fry,[7][8] and Irish radio and television presenter Hector Ó hEochagáin.

Ham Sandwich members Brian Darcy and John Moore met while attending the school.

[3] The senior Gaelic football team has won the Hogan Cup (All Ireland Schools "A" competition) three times, in 2000, 2001 and 2004.