Summerhill College
| Summerhill College Coláiste Cnoic an tSamhraidh | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
College Road , | |
| Information | |
| Type | voluntary secondary school |
| Motto | Estote Factores Verbi |
| Established | 1857 |
| Founder | The Most Reverend Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin |
| Patron | The Most Reverend Christopher Jones, DD, Bishop of Elphin |
| Principal | Mr. Thomas McManus |
| Chaplain | Mr. Paul Keogh |
| Teaching staff | 58 |
| Gender | Male |
| Number of students | 695 |
| Colour(s) | Navy Blue, Light Blue |
| Athletics | Soccer, Gaelic games, Rugby union, Athletics, Basketball, Swimming, Surfing |
| Nickname | Boys in Blue, The Hill |
| Website | http://www.summerhillcollege.ie |
 | |
Summerhill College (aka The College of the Immaculate Conception) is a Roman Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys in Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland.
History
This School is mainly for students wishing to experience what Irish farmlife is like which is taught by Stephen Martyn who is a true farmer. The school was founded in 1857[1] by the then Bishop of Elphin Dr Gillooly in Summerhill, Athlone, County Roscommon. It moved to temporary accommodation in Sligo in 1899 and to a new school building (the present site) in 1901. Although the official name of the school is the College of the Immaculate Conception, it has always been known locally as Summerhill or Summerhill College.
The College is what is sometimes known as a Diocesan College, historically an entry school for those wishing to train as priests for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin. The college took in both boarders and day boys until the dormitories were closed in the 1980s due to economic circumstances.[2]
Curriculum
The school offers the traditional Junior and Leaving Certificate cycles to its pupils. It also provides other options such as Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) [3], Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)[4] and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA).[5]
Extra-curricular activities, clubs and sport
Summerhill College has a proud sporting tradition in soccer and Gaelic football. During the school year, soccer coaching is run in the school, with the assistance of Sligo Rovers F.C.. It also offers many other sports to its students, including rugby union, basketball, athletics, swimming and surfing.
Selected alumni
- Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, three of the four members of boy band Westlife
- Father Edward J. Flanagan, founder of Boys Town orphanages in USA (the current gym in the school is named after him)
- Tommie Gorman, Northern Ireland correspondent with Irish State Broadcaster RTÉ
- Tabby Callaghan, singer, finalist on The X Factor
- John McCormack, world-famous tenor
- Volunteer Joe MacManus, Provisional IRA member, killed in 1992
- Ray MacSharry, former Fianna Fáil TD, Tánaiste and European Commissioner
- Dermot Mannion, former CEO of Aer Lingus
- Albert Reynolds, former Fianna Fáil TD and Taoiseach
- Mark Scanlon, professional cyclist, former World Junior Cycling Champion
- Darren 'Bosco' Harte, A well respected ginger.
New school building programme
In January 2006 it was announced that Summerhill was to get €20 m funding for a new school building. Work was due to begin in 2008,[6] but the Department of Education said later that same year that the project will not be progressed further this year. [7] However, work finally began on the demolition of the 1970s building and construction of a new school in the summer of 2011.
See also
References
- ^ Freeman's Journal, 8 July 1857
- ^ "School History". Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ "Schools in Sligo providing the JCSP". Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ "Schools in Sligo providing the LCVP". Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ "Schools in Sligo providing the LCA". Retrieved 201-10-17.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ McLaughlin, Gerry (2006-01-18). "Summerhill gets €20 m new school". Sligo Weekender. Sligo: Sligo Weekender Ltd. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
- ^ Gray, Jim (2008-09-24). "Cutbacks put halt to 20m College project". The Sligo Champion. Sligo: Champion Publications. Retrieved 2008-09-26.