Catholic University School

Template:Infobox Irish school Catholic University School (CUS) is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys located on the southside of central Dublin. It is run under the patronage of the Marist Fathers.

History

Origins

The foundation of the Catholic University School has its basis in Daniel O'Connell's Catholic Emancipation movement of the late 1820s, the Catholic Relief Act 1829, and a broader Catholic Revival in the United Kingdom (of which Ireland was then part). Before then, while many Catholics received some degree of primary education, few received secondary education and very few received a University education. The only university in Ireland had been Trinity College, Dublin - the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin. However, although the University of Dublin (unlike the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge) had been opened to Catholics in 1793, only a few wealthy Catholics attended. And those who did had either been educated privately, or at schools such as Stonyhurst College in England.

In 1850, Queen Victoria granted a Royal Charter founding three colleges of the Queen's University of Ireland. The colleges in Cork, Belfast and Galway were non-denominational, and at the Synod of Thurles in 1850, the Catholic Church officially condemned them as "Godless Colleges". They declared a need for a Catholic University, and enthusiasm for the project was high - particularly as Cardinal John Henry Newman consented to be the first Rector. The Catholic University of Ireland was founded in 1851 - though not fully established until 18 May 1854.

Early years

The University faced several problems in its opening years. These were largely due to lack of money, and public and political support - which in turn lead to a low number of students. Dr Daniel Murray, the Archbishop of Dublin established a school at 16-17 Harcourt Street to ensure larger numbers of students for the new university and named the school after the patron Saint of Dublin, St. Laurence O'Toole. St. Laurence's Academy, founded in 1850, was accompanied by Belvedere College established by the Jesuits on the north-side of the city.

The first administrators in the school were mostly young Dublin priests who had studied at the Irish College in Rome. Among them was Dr. James Quinn, who set about enrolling students, and within a year the school had an enrolment of 130 students. The subjects taught were classical rather than practical and included Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian and the Arts. Dr. Quinn was subject to praise from many different quarters, including Cardinal Newman, for his efficiency and for the school he created. Pope Pius XI eventually chose him as the first Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Australia - and he left the school.

1859 was a bad year for the school. Not only had Dr. Quinn taken up his appintment in Brisbane but the reaction to a report by the Royal Commission on Endowed Schools in 1858 was coming to a head. The report suggested that all intermediate schools be run on a "mixed basis" or as a multi-denominational system, which was opposed by the Catholic Church. The report also suggested that intermediate schools be under the management of the "Board of Endowed Schools". The Catholic Bishops and Synods opposed these recommendations, and the Catholic hierarchy as a whole eventually decided that they would not agree to them.

By 1862, many changes had taken place. Dr. Bartholomew Woodlock took over as rector of the Catholic University, and suggested that the university should ignore the report's recommendations and proceed with the foundation of feeder secondary schools on its own. He decided to set up two new Catholic secondary schools: Catholic University High School in Waterford, and St. Flannan’s College in Ennis - the latter of which still exists. Along with St. Laurence’s Academy in Dublin, these schools were the Catholic University's primary "feeder schools". Over time, St. Laurence’s Academy developed an integral relationship with the University. Dr. Woodlock was President of the school and professors from the University also thought in the School. Dr. Woodlock also gave the school a name reflecting its function: the Catholic University School.

Marist takeover

In the early 1860s, the finances of the School and University were intertwined, and the rent for the Harcourt Street premises was an high £260 per annum. Neither the school nor the University were able to cope with this burden. The other two schools were not succeeding, and Dr. Woodlock was anxious to relieve himself of the burden of all three schools. While the Catholic University School got into deeper financial trouble, Cardinal Cullen was adamant that it was not possible for CUS to close down even for a year - because it would be possible that the school would never open again.

In 1867 both Cardinal Cullen and Dr. Woodlock travelled to Dundalk for the consecration of Michael Kiernan as Archbishop of Armagh. While there, they visited the Marist College in Dundalk and were impressed with what they saw. Subsequently, Cardinal Cullen and Dr. Conroy, his secretary, wrote to Fr. John Letterrier, superior of Dundalk, and offered him and the Marists St. Laurence's Academy to take over. Fr. Letterrier brought the offer to the General Council of the Marists in Lyons in France. After a two-day petition, he convinced the Council of the benefit of taking on the Dublin school.

After Fr. John Letterrier returned from Lyons in July 1867, Dr. Woodlock informed him of the financial burden the Harcourt St. premises had been. He recommended that the Marists purchase new premises, and when 89 Lower Leeson St. became available, the Marists purchased it. The Harcourt St. site remained on as the premises for the school for a short while, as work was required to prepare the Leeson St. building so it could be used as a school. On the 29th of September 1867, Catholic University School, 89 Lower Leeson St. opened for business.

Notable Alumni

• Joseph Mary Plunkett - Irish Volunteers
• Ronnie Delaney - Irish Olympic Gold Medal Runner
• Sebastian Barry - Author
• Eoin Morgan - Cricketer
• PJ McCall - Songwriter
• John Dillon - Irish political leader
• Graham Linehan - writer
• John Pius Boland - Barrister, Olympic Gold Medals for Tennis and Nationalist MP for South Kerry
• Patrick Lynch - Irish Economist and Former Chairman of Aer Lingus