St Mary's College, Dublin
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2007) |
| St Mary's College Cssp Coláiste Naomh Mhuire |
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Fidelitas in Arduis
Faithful in difficulty
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| Location | |
| Rathmines, Dublin 6 Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 53°19.66′N 6°16′W / 53.32767°N 6.267°WCoordinates: 53°19.66′N 6°16′W / 53.32767°N 6.267°W |
| Information | |
| President | Fr John Flavin, CSSp |
| Principal | Denis Murphy and Mary O'Donnell |
| Deputy principal | Brian Barron |
| Staff | 47 full time, 8 part time |
| Number of students | 500 |
| Religious order | Holy Ghost Fathers |
| Website | stmarys.ie |
Saint Mary's College C.S.Sp. (Congregatio Sancti Spiritus) is an all-boys' primary & secondary school run by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and located in Rathmines, County Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1890, closed in 1916, and then reopened in 1926. Rugby is the major sport and the school colours are blue and white. The Senior School Principal is Denis Murphy and the Senior School Deputy Principal is Brian Moore. The Junior School Principal is Mary O'Donnell and the Junior School Deputy Principal is Brian Barron
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History [edit]
St. Mary's opened in 1890 with only 34 students but this number increased to 115 by the end of that first school year. The College closed in July 1916 for a variety of reasons including mounting debts, lack of staff and the necessity to relocate Holy Ghost seminarians from war-torn Europe. Due to popular demand led by the then Archbishop of Dublin, St. Mary's reopened in 1926.
The College sports ground in Kenilworth Square was purchased in 1947. It was immediately levelled and seeded and was ready to be used in 1950. The college chapel was opened in 1955.
Between the years 1966 and 1968 the College went through a series of renovations which included a new gym, a new entrance on the Rathmines Road and the Junior School extension. The new Scout Den, in Kenilworth Square, was opened in 1971 and the chapel was changed in 1975. In 1981 the new pavilion was opened in Kenilworth.
In 1989 a new Senior School wing was opened. In 1990 the College celebrated its centenary year. A further extension to the Senior School was completed in 1995 and the science laboratories were re-equipped. The gym was improved in the 1992 with the addition of a new weights room. In 1997 Kenilworth Square had its pitches improved, changing facilities increased and new fencing installed.
Recent changes [edit]
Around 2000, the school launched a development programme including the construction of a new multi-purpose hall and gymnasium, known as the Fr. Barry Hall in honour of Fr. Frank ‘Père’ Barry, a long-serving member of the College community. The Fr. Barry Hall was opened in 2003 and has been used for a variety of College events including prize-giving, theatrical productions and seminars, as well as the physical education programme.
In addition to the construction of the hall, the development plan included the construction of a new Senior School canteen, biology laboratory and technology facilities. The Junior School was also refurbished.
Sport [edit]
Rugby [edit]
St. Mary's have produced 31 schools' international players since 1975 - more than almost any other school - as well as several full international players such as Denis Hickie The school has won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup 5 times.[citation needed] The associated club - St. Mary's College RFC - was created by past pupils.
Basketball [edit]
St. Mary's has also recently added basketball to the list of sports that it offers to students. Although it was only started in 2005 the school now field numerous basketball teams competing in many inter-school competitions. In 2007, the senior team won the inaugural U19 All - Ireland Plate. In 2008, the senior team won the Leinster U19 Trophy. The U19 lost to St. Joseph's, Derry in the All-Ireland final.
Badminton [edit]
Badminton is offered in the school though it isn't very popular amongst the students.
Notable past pupils [edit]
- Kevin Barry (briefly) - Irish republican (executed in 1920)
- Paul Dean - Former Irish rugby player
- Vincent Dowling - Irish American Director
- Frs. Tom and Earnest Farrell - Founders of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland in 1927
- Larry Gogan - broadcaster
- Denis Hickie - Former Leinster, Irish and Lions rugby player
- Shane Jennings - Leinster and Irish rugby player
- Nicholas Kearns - Judge of the Irish Supreme Court
- Kieran Lewis - Munster Rugby player
- Darragh MacAnthony - Chairman of Peterborough United FC
- Ronan McCormack - Former Leinster and UCD Rugby Player
- Rodney O'Donnell - Former Leinster, Irish and Lions rugby player
- Tom O'Higgins - former Chief Justice of Irish Supreme Court
- David O'Sullivan, Director General for EU Trade
- Paddy Power - Bookmaker
- Eoin Ryan - former MEP for Dublin
- Jonathan Sexton - Leinster and Irish rugby player
- Tony Ward - Former Irish and Lions rugby player and League of Ireland footballer, Journalist
Notable staff [edit]
- Éamon de Valera - Taoiseach and former President, taught at St. Mary's for a short time in 1915 as a mathematics professor
Sister schools [edit]
The following schools were also founded by the Holy Ghost Fathers in Ireland:
External links [edit]
- St. Mary's College C.S.Sp. – school's official website
- St. Mary's College RFC – rugby club's official website
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