St. Michael's College, Dublin
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
.
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.
twice in 1991 and 2002 in addition to reaching 5 JCT finals in a row up to 2011. The school has won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup
once in 2007 where Conor Cleary was captain. St Michael's also participates in an U13's Cup rugby competition organised and played by holy ghost schools, Templeogue College, St. Mary's College, Willow Park and Blackrock College.
In recent years St Michaels has invested heavily in on site sporting facilities and has now astro turf all weather training and scrummaging areas, modern weights and gym zone in addition to a new sports pavilion housing modern changing facilities and showers etc. In addition st michaels has a number of rugby pitches and training areas located on its d4 campus. It also has a large indoor basketball/ football/ training arena and a 18m indoor swimming pool. St Michaels senior school fields rugby teams from u13 right through to u18s. Its junior school houses a rugby nursery for boys aged from 4 – 12 years.
Simon Keogh, past pupil from the class of 1998, was a member of Senior Cup sides for three years up to 1998 when he also captained the first XV. He has played professional rugby for many seasons having played with Leinster ( 2000–2003 ), Harlequins (UK)( playing 133 times between 2003–2009 ) and resigning for Leinster in 2009 & 2010. He won a European Cup medal with Leinster in 2009 having won a European Shield medal with Quinns in 2004 where he scored the match winning try. Simon has also represented Ireland at schools, u21, sevens and A levels. In 2011 he was a member of the Old Belvedere RFC 1st XV who won the All Ireland League Division 1 title.
Aidan Kearney, also class of 1998 and member of the 1st XV in that year, played a number of seasons professionally with Leinster ( 2003 & 2004 ) and then Ulster. Aidan represented Ireland at u19s and u21 levels winning a u19 world cup medal in 1998 with fellow team members and current Irish internationals Brian O Driscoll, Donnacha O Callaghan and Paddy Wallace amongst others. Aidan has played AIL rugby with Dungannon and Suttonians, his home and local club. Aidan is a strong supporter of underage rugby and currently coaches the Suttonians RFC u20 side.
Keith Gleeson attended the St Michaels junior school before moving to Australia with his family. He later went on to represent Australia at schools, u19s, 21s and sevens levels. He was also a member of the NSW warratahs professional side for a number of seasons. He then moved back to Ireland to play for leinster whom he also captained a number of times. Keith won 27 senior caps for Ireland and played in the 2003 RWC. He reitred in 2007.
In recent years Luke McGrath & Noel Reid have been awarded Leinster academy contracts. Past pupil and current secondary school teacher in St Michaels, Greg McWilliams ( class of 1996 ) is currently a coach of the Leinster Under 19 side, and skills coach to the Irish Women's side . Past pupil and former teacher in St Michaels, Paul Barr, is currently head coach of the Ireland schools U18 team. Former Irish Internationals and past pupils include Derek McGrath and past vice principal and teacher Noel Turley.
The school senior golf team has had national success in recent years and can avail of the nearby Elm Park Golf club for practice. In 2002 the school won the national matchplay championship and was runner up in the national stroke play championship at senior level. International schools golfers Ronan O Connor and Peter McGibney were members of the team. Both went on to play collegiate golf in the USA.
Athletics is also a feature of "off season" competition in St Michaels with the school competing in the East Leinster schools championship annually. All disciplines are supported and school teams can train at the nearby UCD athletics track. The school has had notable success over the years in National senior relays and sprinting events.
, 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.
Allen Leech is a well known and successful international actor who was a member of the class of 1999
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.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
boys' school, located on Ailesbury Road
Ailesbury Road
Ailesbury Road , Dublin 4, Ireland, is a tree-lined avenue linking Sydney Parade Station on Sydney Parade Avenue and the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook....
in Dublin 4
Dublin 4
Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....
, Ireland
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 1944 by the Holy Ghost Fathers
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
.
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
Willow Park School
Willow Park School is a Catholic, private primary school for boys, located in Booterstown, County Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1935 by the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Holy Spirit as a junior school to Blackrock College, and acts as that school's principal feeder. It is situated on the...
and initially was just a primary school to Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
. 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
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
. It has been extensively expanded, including the opening of a cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
and a sports pavilion, as well as new classrooms and a new chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
.
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.1950s and 1960s
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 John Charles McQuaidJohn Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
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
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
.
The 1970s
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.Recent history
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 McAleeseMary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
visited the school. 2001–02 Willie Bradley was appointed manager of the school. The Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
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.
Controversy
In 2010, Allegations appeared in the Irish Independent on 6 November 2010 regarding 250,000 euro that was 'missing' from the school. There has been no further media commentary on the matter to date. However, the accused accountant tragically died by suicide earlier this year.Rugby
The school has a strong rugby playing tradition, having won the Leinster Schools Junior CupLeinster Schools Junior Cup
The Leinster Schools Junior Challenge Cup is an under-age rugby union competition for schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU.Competition is confined to students under the age of 15. The cup is held every January - March with the final in late March. It is usually seen as a good...
twice in 1991 and 2002 in addition to reaching 5 JCT finals in a row up to 2011. The school has won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup
Leinster Schools Senior Cup
The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup is the premier rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. First held in 1887, the Cup celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2007....
once in 2007 where Conor Cleary was captain. St Michael's also participates in an U13's Cup rugby competition organised and played by holy ghost schools, Templeogue College, St. Mary's College, Willow Park and Blackrock College.
In recent years St Michaels has invested heavily in on site sporting facilities and has now astro turf all weather training and scrummaging areas, modern weights and gym zone in addition to a new sports pavilion housing modern changing facilities and showers etc. In addition st michaels has a number of rugby pitches and training areas located on its d4 campus. It also has a large indoor basketball/ football/ training arena and a 18m indoor swimming pool. St Michaels senior school fields rugby teams from u13 right through to u18s. Its junior school houses a rugby nursery for boys aged from 4 – 12 years.
Simon Keogh, past pupil from the class of 1998, was a member of Senior Cup sides for three years up to 1998 when he also captained the first XV. He has played professional rugby for many seasons having played with Leinster ( 2000–2003 ), Harlequins (UK)( playing 133 times between 2003–2009 ) and resigning for Leinster in 2009 & 2010. He won a European Cup medal with Leinster in 2009 having won a European Shield medal with Quinns in 2004 where he scored the match winning try. Simon has also represented Ireland at schools, u21, sevens and A levels. In 2011 he was a member of the Old Belvedere RFC 1st XV who won the All Ireland League Division 1 title.
Aidan Kearney, also class of 1998 and member of the 1st XV in that year, played a number of seasons professionally with Leinster ( 2003 & 2004 ) and then Ulster. Aidan represented Ireland at u19s and u21 levels winning a u19 world cup medal in 1998 with fellow team members and current Irish internationals Brian O Driscoll, Donnacha O Callaghan and Paddy Wallace amongst others. Aidan has played AIL rugby with Dungannon and Suttonians, his home and local club. Aidan is a strong supporter of underage rugby and currently coaches the Suttonians RFC u20 side.
Keith Gleeson attended the St Michaels junior school before moving to Australia with his family. He later went on to represent Australia at schools, u19s, 21s and sevens levels. He was also a member of the NSW warratahs professional side for a number of seasons. He then moved back to Ireland to play for leinster whom he also captained a number of times. Keith won 27 senior caps for Ireland and played in the 2003 RWC. He reitred in 2007.
In recent years Luke McGrath & Noel Reid have been awarded Leinster academy contracts. Past pupil and current secondary school teacher in St Michaels, Greg McWilliams ( class of 1996 ) is currently a coach of the Leinster Under 19 side, and skills coach to the Irish Women's side . Past pupil and former teacher in St Michaels, Paul Barr, is currently head coach of the Ireland schools U18 team. Former Irish Internationals and past pupils include Derek McGrath and past vice principal and teacher Noel Turley.
Other sports
St Michaels College also competes in Basketball, Tennis, Waterpolo, Gaelic Football, Cricket and Golf at all ages.The school senior golf team has had national success in recent years and can avail of the nearby Elm Park Golf club for practice. In 2002 the school won the national matchplay championship and was runner up in the national stroke play championship at senior level. International schools golfers Ronan O Connor and Peter McGibney were members of the team. Both went on to play collegiate golf in the USA.
Athletics is also a feature of "off season" competition in St Michaels with the school competing in the East Leinster schools championship annually. All disciplines are supported and school teams can train at the nearby UCD athletics track. The school has had notable success over the years in National senior relays and sprinting events.
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 MacbethMacbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
and Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, adapted later as a stage play. A movie version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released during 1972....
.
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.
Allen Leech is a well known and successful international actor who was a member of the class of 1999
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.Fashion
The school maintains a tradition of jointly organising a charity fashion showFashion show
A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...
with local girl's school, Muckross Park College
Muckross Park College
Muckross Park College is a private Catholic all girls secondary school located in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland. Founded in 1901, the curriculum is traditional, with a broad general programme of subjects and a compulsory Transition year programme. Muckross is one of a number of Dominican schools in...
. 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
RDS
RDS may refer to:*Amazon Relational Database Service, Amazon's cloud-based Relational Database Service*Radio Data System*Radio Dimensione Suono, an Italian radio station*Random dot stereogram, a form of 3-D image*SAP Rapid Deployment Solutions, from SAP AG...
Concert Hall on Sunday the 8th of March. It was themed on a Circus and attendance was as high as 1000 people.
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 BarrettRichard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett is an Irish politician who is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency.Boyd Barrett is a former member of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and chair of the Irish Anti-War Movement and is frequently cited in the Irish media...
T.D.Teachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
- Socialist Workers Party and People Before Profit AlliancePeople Before Profit AllianceThe People Before Profit Alliance is an Irish political party formed in October 2005. It is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.-Overview:It was established by the Socialist Workers Party... - Risteard CooperRisteárd CooperRisteárd Cooper is an Irish actor, comedian, singer and writer and is one third of comedy trio Aprés Match.Cooper graduated from the acting programme at the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College...
– Comedy with RTÉRTERTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey... - Keith GleesonKeith GleesonKeith Gleeson is a retired Irish rugby union football player.- Early life :Gleeson was born in Dublin, Ireland, before moving to Australia with his family as a child after attending St. Michaels College, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 for several years...
– former Irish rugby international and Leinster player - Simon KeoghSimon KeoghSimon Keogh is a rugby union player who played on the wing for Leinster Rugby. He has won the Heineken Cup with Leinster. He has been on the Ireland A's squad as well as the Colorado 2009 Churchill Cup squad. He used to play for Harlequins where he won the Challenge Cup where he scored the winning...
– Leinster RugbyLeinster RugbyLeinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup... - Allen LeechAllen LeechAllen Leech is an Irish stage, television and film actor, best known for his role as Marcus Agrippa in the 2007 HBO television series Rome, and his role as chauffeur Tom Branson in ITV 2010 television series Downton Abbey....
– Actor - Eoghan MurphyEoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency at the 2011 general election....
- Fine GaelFine GaelFine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
T.D.Teachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal... - Ruairi QuinnRuairi QuinnRuairi Quinn is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Education and Skills since March 2011. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency. He was Minister for Finance from 1994 to 1997, and leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002.-Early...
– Minister for Education and Skills - Luke McGrath – Leinster rugby
- Niall McLaughlin – 1998, UK Young Architect of the Year.
- Daniel McManus – Head coach Singapore Rugby UnionSingapore Rugby UnionThe Singapore Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Singapore. It was founded in 1948. The current president is Low Teo Ping, and current CEO is Ian Bremner.-2005 Financial Scandal:...
* - Derek McGrath – former Irish rugby international and Leinster player.
Notable teachers
- Dermot MorganDermot MorganDermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
– The future "Father TedFather TedFather Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
" taught English in the college before becoming a full time actor.