The 1821 census reported a population of 2,046 in Wicklow Town, but only 172 were attending school. In 1864 the population was 3,404. There were five schools in the town: a national school, a parochial school on the foundation of Erasmus Smith and three small private schools. 741 people were enrolled in various schools here in 1868 but only 294 were in attendance on the day when an assistant commissioner from the Royal Commission on Primary Education visited. The proportion of children at school was small and in the case of girls, remarkably small.

The Order of Preachers (Dominicans), founded by St. Dominic, first came to Ireland in 1216. The Dominican Sisters were invited to take up residence in Bayview House in 1869 by the Parish Priest of Wicklow, Rev. Patrick O’ Doherty. On 20th June 1870 six Dominican Sisters, under their foundress (Mother Ursula Maher), arrived in Wicklow, opening their first primary school here at Bayview on 24th June 1870. The school proved to be very popular and by August, a day school for female students (St. Anne’s) was opened. On 8th September 1870 a private boarding school for young ladies was opened, following the beginning of a private day-school for young ladies in August, thus beginning the Dominican role in secondary education. Attendance at the new school flourished, breaking all previous records. Initially 377 pupils attended between both levels: 315 female and 62 male infants. Ages of pupils varied, with some of the girls/ladies being older than their teachers!