St. Patrick's College, Tuam
Encyclopedia
St. Patrick's College was a Roman Catholic secondary school
for boys in Tuam
, County Galway
, Ireland
.
The college was named after St. Patrick, as the foundation stone of the school was laid on St. Patrick's Day, 17th March 1860. The school was amalgamated with nearby St. Jarlath's College in 2009, to form the new St. Jarlath's College
.
St. Patrick's began life as Tuam Christian Brothers
School (Tuam C.B.S.) in 1851, in a rented building at Prospect, off the old Ballygaddy Road. The building was owned by the Protestant Archbishop of Tuam
. The first superior and principal was Brother Laurence Lowe. The school prospered until 1859, when in June of that year, the landlord refused to renew the lease.
The Bishop, Thomas Plunket
, demanded vacant possession of the property, and on Wednesday, 1st June 1859, the sheriff, his bailiffs and a force of police attempted to take vacant possession of the school. Due to the endeavours of the local people, they did not succeed until 16th June. The brothers were then recalled to Dublin, and on the following night the premises was broken into, set alight, and burned to the ground.
The departure of the Brothers in 1859 created a grave problem for the town of Tuam. The people found themselves deprived of an education for their children, St. Jarlath's being exclusively for boarders at that time. So, on July 31st, 1859, Archbishop MacHale, who had first invited the Brothers to Tuam, called a meeting in the sacristy, at which it was decided to build a new school, for which the Archbishop donated a site on the Dublin Road.
On this site the new school was built, and opened in November 1861 with two brothers. The building housed both the primary and secondary schools for many years, as well as the Brothers' monastery. A separate primary school was built in the 1940's, allowing more space for the secondary school.
The school continued to operate here until 1980, when a new school and gymnasium were built on a site behind the old monastery. This school continued to be run by the Christian Brothers until 1990, when, due to a lack of vocations, the Brothers left Tuam. The school then came under the patronage of the Archbishop of Tuam.
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...
for boys in Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, 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...
.
The college was named after St. Patrick, as the foundation stone of the school was laid on St. Patrick's Day, 17th March 1860. The school was amalgamated with nearby St. Jarlath's College in 2009, to form the new St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. It is an amalgamation of the former St. Jarlath's College and St...
.
History
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
School (Tuam C.B.S.) in 1851, in a rented building at Prospect, off the old Ballygaddy Road. The building was owned by the Protestant Archbishop of Tuam
Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
The Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry is the Church of Ireland Ordinary of the united Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry in the Province of Armagh. The present incumbent is the Right Reverend Patrick Rooke....
. The first superior and principal was Brother Laurence Lowe. The school prospered until 1859, when in June of that year, the landlord refused to renew the lease.
The Bishop, Thomas Plunket
Thomas Plunket, 2nd Baron Plunket
The Right Reverend Thomas Span Plunket, 2nd Baron Plunket , was Bishop of Tuam, Killaly and Achonry.Plunket was the first son of William Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket and his wife, Catherine . He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge. On the death of his father in 1854, he became the 2nd Baron...
, demanded vacant possession of the property, and on Wednesday, 1st June 1859, the sheriff, his bailiffs and a force of police attempted to take vacant possession of the school. Due to the endeavours of the local people, they did not succeed until 16th June. The brothers were then recalled to Dublin, and on the following night the premises was broken into, set alight, and burned to the ground.
The departure of the Brothers in 1859 created a grave problem for the town of Tuam. The people found themselves deprived of an education for their children, St. Jarlath's being exclusively for boarders at that time. So, on July 31st, 1859, Archbishop MacHale, who had first invited the Brothers to Tuam, called a meeting in the sacristy, at which it was decided to build a new school, for which the Archbishop donated a site on the Dublin Road.
On this site the new school was built, and opened in November 1861 with two brothers. The building housed both the primary and secondary schools for many years, as well as the Brothers' monastery. A separate primary school was built in the 1940's, allowing more space for the secondary school.
The school continued to operate here until 1980, when a new school and gymnasium were built on a site behind the old monastery. This school continued to be run by the Christian Brothers until 1990, when, due to a lack of vocations, the Brothers left Tuam. The school then came under the patronage of the Archbishop of Tuam.