St Michael's College, Dublin
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Template:Infobox Irish school St Michael's College is a Catholic boys' school, located on Ailesbury Road in Dublin 4, Ireland. It was founded in 1944 by the Holy Ghost Fathers.
St Michael's College was founded in 1944 by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (The Spiritans) as a second feeder school with Willow Park and initially was just a primary school to Blackrock College. The first eight students were transferred from Willow Park. The next September, 58 students were enrolled. In 1952 the first secondary school students were admitted. Following expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, the school now has both a primary and secondary school. It has been extensively expanded, including the opening of a cafeteria and a sports pavilion, as well as new classrooms and a new chapel.
Extra-curricular activities
Rugby
The school has a rugby playing tradition, having won the Leinster Schools Junior Cup twice in 1991 and 2002. The school has won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup once in 2007. St Michael's also participates in an U13's rugby competition organised and played by holy ghost schools, Templeogue College, St. Mary's College, Rockwell College, Willow Park and Blackrock College. Currently Simon Keogh is playing on the Old Belvedere squad whilst Royce Burke Flynn is playing professionally in France.
Theatre
The school organises a yearly play which is held every year usually around November or December. The school often works in conjunction with the Teresian School in casting the play. In the past they have made such productions as Macbeth, Hamlet and Under Milk Wood.
The Michaels' students recently performed an adaptation of George Buchner's Woyzeck. Most recently the school produced and performed an original devised theatre show in association with Mount Anville called How to Make an Elephant Disappear.
Debating
The school has a respectable history in Debating, with teams taking part in numerous competitions across different languages including English, Irish and French.
Gaelic Football
The school provides teams for boys in First and Second year and have entered the Leinster GAA Schools competition since 2008.
Golf
In the school golf is played to a very high standard. Teams have qualified the Irish matchplay and stroke play on many occasions. In 2002 the school won the Irish matchplay championship and were runners up in the Irish stroke play championship, after winning the Leinster division. The team that year consisted of 2 Irish school international players, Ronan O'Connor and Peter McGibney.
Other notable Golfers include Daniel Lafferty, cruely struck out of rugby through an achillies tendon injury, he turned his attention to golf. Daniel soon shot into limelight posing on the cover of good housekeeping in May 2006. Daniel also won the award for most helpful person in 2010.
Fashion
The school maintains a tradition of jointly organising a charity fashion show with local girl's school, Muckross Park College. There is a history of raising substantial sums of money for charities chosen by the students. The 2009 Fashion Show was held in the RDS Concert Hall on Sunday the 8th of March. It was themed on a Circus and attendance was as high as 1000 people.
History
St Michael's College was bought by Blackrock College in 1944 as a second feeder school with Willow Park. The building itself was built in 1860 by Michael Meade and modelled on “Osborne House” on the Isle of Wight. Blackrock College bought the house for IRL£ 8,000 from the Jacob's family (the biscuit manufacturers). In May 1944 the first eight students were transferred from Willow Park; they were enrolled under St. Michael's first dean, Fr. Tom Maguire. The following September, 58 students were enrolled under the second dean of the school, Fr. Cornelius Daly.
In 1952-53 St Michael's had its first students go into first year, which became the origin of the senior school, which contained just eight students that first year. By 1963 St. Michael's was growing and so for the first time a second first year class was created.
In 1967-68, the school started constructing a new wing, which included the assembly hall and swimming pool. From 1944-1968 St. Michael's had continued to be a junior school which had served as far as second year, but in 1968 it was decided that pupils would stay in St. Michael's until after the Intermediate Certificate (4th Year). In 1970-71 Archbishop McQuaide blessed and opened the new Junior School and swimming pool. In December 1970, Fr. Seamus Galvin was appointed the first President (1970-1976), and this was the first time St. Michael's officially became an independent school and community from Blackrock College.
In 1972-73 the school started construction of the new library, classrooms and science rooms.
In 1974-75 Archbishop Ryan opened the new buildings. In 1975, pupils from St. Michael's sat the Leaving Certificate for the first time.
The following year, Fr. Cyril Sheedy became Superior of St. Michael's, Fr. Laurence McHugh was appointed Principal of the Junior School with Fr. Alo Flood being appointed Principal of the Senior School.
In 1982 Fr. Aidan Lehane was appointed Principal of the Senior School until 1991.
Fr. Seamus Galvin became the 1st President of the Past Pupils' Union in 1986.
In 1990 while the Senior Cup Team were defeated in the final against Clongowes, the Junior Cup Team won the first title against Clongowes. The following year in 1991-92 Fr. Willie Bradley was appointed Principal of the Senior School.
Ms. Mairéad Burke was appointed Principal of the Junior School 1992-93. Fr. Aidan Lehane was appointed manager of St. Michael's later that same year. In 1993-94 St. Michael's celebrated its Golden Jubilee. Fr. Michael Duggan was appointed Superior in 1995.
In 1995-96 Mr Len Howard was appointed Principal of the Senior School, with Mr Noel Turley as Vice Principal and Fr Aidan Lehane appointed as manager of the school.
In 1997-98 Fr Billy Cleary was appointed manager of the school.
The start of the building of the new school began in 1998-99. The following year Ms. Lorna Heslin was appointed Deputy Principal of the Junior School.
In 2000-01 the new school building was opened. Fr. Pat Palmer dedicated the new college chapel, Cardinal Desmond Connell blessed the new building and her Excellency President Mary McAleese visited the school.
2001-02 Willie Bradley was appointed manager of the school. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited the school. The Junior Cup team defeated Castleknock in the final for a second Junior Cup title.
2002-03 Mr Tim Kelleher was appointed Principal of the Senior School and Mrs Shelia Murray the Deputy Principal. The following year, Boards of Managements were set up for both the Senior and Junior Schools.
2006-07 St.Michael's won their first ever Senior Cup and had a school record of 5 players playing for the Irish U-18s in the U-18s World Cup hosted in Belfast that summer. These included their captain Conor Cleary, winger Paddy Brophy, Ian Leonard, the No 8 Patrick Mallon and Reilly.
2010 Allegations appeared in the Irish Independent on November 6th 2010 regarding 250,000 euro that was 'missing' from the school. There has been no further media commentary on the matter to date.
Terms
The school year is divided into three terms of which the first, the Michaelmas Term (September to December) is the longest. The Hilary Term is from January to March. The third is the Trinity Term, from April to June, and this is when external public examinations are taken. The Michaelmas Term has a substantial holiday at half-term, when the College closes down.
Alumni
- Richard Boyd Barrett T.D.- Socialist Workers Party and People Before Profit Alliance
- Risteard Cooper - Comedy with RTÉ
- Keith Gleeson - former Irish rugby international and Leinster player
- Simon Keogh - Leinster Rugby
- Allen Leech - Actor
- Eoghan Murphy- Fine Gael T.D.
- Ruairi Quinn - former Minister for Finance and Labour Party T.D.^
- Mark Bollard - Complete and utter tosser
Notable teachers
- Dermot Morgan - The future "Father Ted" taught English in the college before becoming a full time actor.