Dominican College Sion Hill
Encyclopedia
Dominican College Sion Hill is one of the oldest girls' secondary schools in Ireland
. It was founded in 1836 in Blackrock, County Dublin
in Ireland. Its approach to education is based on the Dominican
ideal of developing the whole person. "Dominican College Sion Hill aims to help each student achieve her full potential academically, spiritually, emotionally and socially in a happy secure environment."
There are three voluntary choirs and an orchestra in the school which perform at various school functions and go carol singing annually at Powers court Townhouse Centre in Dublin. Sion Hill also enters competitions such as the Cork Choral Festival, The Arklow Music Festival (2nd Place in 2006), The Wesley Inter Schools Festival (1st prize winners March 1999) and the Department of Education examinations (making the regional finals 1995 and 1996).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was founded in 1836 in Blackrock, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
in Ireland. Its approach to education is based on the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
ideal of developing the whole person. "Dominican College Sion Hill aims to help each student achieve her full potential academically, spiritually, emotionally and socially in a happy secure environment."
Foundation
Sion Hill was founded by the Dominican sisters in 1836 in a suburban villa called Sion Hill because of rare shrubs brought by its owners from the Holy Land. In the beginning the school catered for 40 day pupils, 8 boarders and 10 nuns. By 1950 this had increased to 120 day pupils and 130 boarders. The boarding school closed in the late 1960s and the school now caters for 300 day pupils.Grounds
There used to be two grass Hockey pitches as part of the school, but these were sold off in 1990 for residential development. The Residential development of Sion Hill now occupies this space since 1992.Hockey
Sion Hill has a long tradition of playing hockey. They have teams participating in the Leinster Schoolgirls competitions. The teams are professionally coached and use the facilities of an all weather hockey pitch.Tennis
Sion Hill has teams participating in the Leinster Championships. The tennis facilities comprises 3 tennis courts.Basketball
Sion Hill has teams participating in the Dublin League. The teams are professionally coached and use the facilities of 3 outdoor courts and 1 indoor court.Other Sports
There are other sports provided for at Sion Hill, such as Badminton, Gaelic Football, Soccer, Aerobics and Athletics.Music
The music department offers music at Junior and Leaving Certificate level, with opportunities to use the music technology option and conducting for Leaving certificate.There are three voluntary choirs and an orchestra in the school which perform at various school functions and go carol singing annually at Powers court Townhouse Centre in Dublin. Sion Hill also enters competitions such as the Cork Choral Festival, The Arklow Music Festival (2nd Place in 2006), The Wesley Inter Schools Festival (1st prize winners March 1999) and the Department of Education examinations (making the regional finals 1995 and 1996).
Debating
Debating is a popular activity with many successes in various competitions debating in English, Irish, French and German.Notable Alumnae and Teachers
- Niamh BhreathnachNiamh BhreathnachNiamh Bhreathnach is an Irish Labour Party politician. She was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1992 until 1997, and served as Minister for Education from 1993 until 1997...
, former Minister for Education and Science, Labour Party T.D. - Mary HanafinMary HanafinMary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
, former Minister for Education and Science, Fianna Fáil T.D. - Sinéad O'ConnorSinéad O'ConnorSinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
, singer