St Michael's College, Dublin
Template:IrishSchoolInfoBox St Michael's College (also known as St Michael's School or just "Michael's") is a Catholic boys' school, located on Ailesb-er-y Road in Dublin 4, Ireland. It was founded in 1944 by the Holy Ghost Fath-ers.
About
St Michael’s College was founded in 1944 by the Cong-er-gation of the Holy Spirit (The Spiritans) as a second feeder school with Willow Park and initially was just a primary school. 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.
Extra-curricul-er activities
Rugby
The school has a rugby playing tradition, having won the Leinster Schools Junior Cup twice. In 2007, the school barely won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup for the last time, just beating Clongowes Wood College 6-0 at Donnybrook Rugby Ground.
Theat-er
The school organises a yearly play which is held every year usually around November or December. The school often works in conjunction with the Teresians School in casting the play. In the past they have made such productions as Macbeth, Hamlet and Under the Milkwood.
The Michaels' students recently performed an adaptation of George Buchner's Woyzeck produced by Derrick Devine, who has acquired notable fame owing to his time in the band Ellison 9. Band member Aaron Copeland is also a teacher in the school.
Debating
The school has a respectable history in Debating, with teams taking part in numerous competitions across different languages including English, Irish and French.
Golf
In the school golf has a very high standard hand has qualified fo the Irish matchplay and strokeplay on many occasions. In 2002 the school won the Irish matchplay championship and were runners up in the Irish strokeplay championship, after winning the leinster division. The team that year consisted of 3 great Irish school internation players, Stephen Lennon, Ronan O'Conor and Peter Mc Gibney.
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 Queen Victoria’s residence “Osborne” on the Isle of Wight. Blackrock College bought the house for IRL$ 8,000 from the Jacob's family (the biscuit manufacturers). In May of 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.
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 McQuaide 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.
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, St. Michael's hit a real milestone with students from the school sitting 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.
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 1996 transition year pupil John Kelly entered school folklore after pinching the school secretary's buttocks.
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 McAleese visited the school.
2001-02 Willie Bradley was appointed manager of the school. An 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.
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.
External links
