St Finbarr's College, Farranferris

Farranferris was a secondary school, on the north side of Cork City, Ireland. It was a seminary, attached to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross. Boys who did not intend to study for the priesthood could also attend the boarding school, and pupils from the city attended as day students. The centenary of the founding of the seminary was celebrated in 1987; the secondary school in June 2006. The uniform worn by students was a wine coloured jumper with grey shirt and trousers.

The school closed in 2006 but had closed to boarding pupils at the end of the 1999-2000 academic year.

It was the alma mater of some well-known Corkonians. Those most notable today are Bill O'Herlihy, Timothy Smiddy, Joe Walsh, John Gardiner, Tom Kenny, Ian Kelly (Rugby Coach), Michael O Brien, Patrick Neville, Mark Foley, Johnny Crowley, Kevin Murray, Finbar Wright, James Good (Professor of Theology, University College Cork), Aloys Fleischmann (composer), and Seán Ó Riada (composer, founder of Ceoltóirí Chualann).

Sports

The school was a successful at hurling, having won the Dr. Harty Cup and Dr. Croke Cup on several occasions.

Literature

• Walsh, Fr. J. C.: Farranferris: The Heritage of St Finbarr 1887-1987. Tower Books, Cork 1987.