List of Old Rockmen explained

This is a list of notable past pupils of Blackrock College (Irish: Coláiste na Carraige Duibhe), a Catholic, voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, 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 0.25 square kilometres (62 acres) of grounds, it has an illustrious sporting tradition. The college, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Dublin city centre is just in from the sea, and is self-contained, with a large boarding school and teaching facilities. Now run by a lay foundation in trust, it maintains high academic standards and requires all pupils to participate in non-academic activities. The missionary tradition continues with charity programmes, especially at Christmas. It accommodates approximately 1,100 day (primarily) and boarding students.

Literature

• Brian O'Nolan, wrote the novels At Swim-Two-Birds (1939) and The Third Policeman (1967) under the pen name Flann O'Brien. A career civil servant, he also wrote satirical columns in The Irish Times under the pseudonym Myles na gCopaleen.^[1]
• Pádraic Ó Conaire (28 February 1882 – 6 October 1928) was a writer and journalist who wrote in Irish, particularly about Irish emigrants in the UK.^[2]
• Joseph O'Connor, Author^[3]
• Liam O'Flaherty (28 August 1896 – 7 September 1984) was a novelist and short story writer, known for The Informer, he was a major figure in the Irish Renaissance.^[4]
• Tim Pat Coogan is an Irish historian and journalist. He attended Blackrock in the late 1940s.
• Paul Murray, (b. 1975) a novelist, author of Skippy Dies^[5]

Journalism

• Paddy Murray, a journalist, who served as Editor of the Sunday Tribune from 2002 to 2005.^[6]
• Rory Carroll, a foreign reporter for The Guardian, he gained international attention when he was kidnapped in Baghdad in 2005. He was released unharmed.
• David McWilliams, an economics journalist and broadcaster.^[7]
• Paul Tansey, was the Economics Editor of The Irish Times; he also founded a business consultancy.^{[8] [9]}

Business

• David J. O'Reilly, chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation.
• Lochlann Quinn, former chairman of AIB, co-founder of Glendimplex Group^[10]
• Dr. Brendan O'Regan CBE, visionary businessman responsible for transforming Shannon Airport and the Shannon Region and deeply involved in the peace and cooperation process in Ireland
• Eddie O'Connor, founder and CEO of Airtricity and Mainstream Renewable Power
• Derek Quinlan, real estate investor
• Stephen Wall, Blackrock Advocacy Services

Politics and government

• Éamon de Valera was one of the leaders of the Irish War of Independence, after which he served as Taoiseach of Ireland six times, introduced the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, and served two terms as Uachtarán na hÉireann. He was a pupil and later Professor of Mathematics at Blackrock.^[11]
• Ruairi Quinn, TD, was Minister for Education and Skills in the Government of Ireland. He served as the Minister for Finance from 1994 to 1997, and leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002. He was a pupil at Blackrock in the early 1960s, where he was successful in rugby, athletics and art.^{[12] [13]}
• Barry Andrews, a teacher, served as TD for Dún Laoghaire from 2002 until 2011. He was the Minister for Children from 2008 until 2011.^[14]
• Rory O'Hanlon was a Teachta Dála for Cavan–Monaghan from 1977 until 2011. He served in a range of cabinet positions and as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.^[15]
• Niall Ó Brolcháin was the Mayor of Galway from 2006 to 2007. He has also served as a county councillor and senator.^[16]
• James McNeill, was an Irish politician and diplomat, who served as the first High Commissioner to London and second Governor-General of the Irish Free State from 1927 to 1932.
• Art O'Connor, elected Sinn Féin MP for Kildare South in 1918, he joined the then revolutionary parliament called Dáil Éireann. In the 2nd Dáil he served as Secretary for Agriculture from 1921 to 1922.
• Eoin Ó Broin, Socialist theorist, member of the Sinn Féin
• David P. Doyle, Ambassador, St. Kitts and Nevis to UNESCO

Legal

• Ronan Keane, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland
• Dermot Gleeson, Former Attorney General, Current Chairman of AIB
• Michael Moriarty, High Court Judge
• John Quirke, High Court Judge
• David Barniville, High Court Judge
• Seamus Egan, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland
• Vivion de Valera, son of Éamon de Valera, he served in the Army during The Emergency, then as a T.D.
• Rossa Fanning, Attorney General

Humanitarian

• Frank Duff, Founder of the Legion of Mary
• Niall O'Brien,^[17] Missionary

Academic

• E. J. Conway, biochemist, specialist in electrolyte physiology and analytical chemistry.^[18]
• James Macmahon^[19]
• Bryan Patrick Beirne
• Alfred O'Rahilly

Arts

• Paul Costelloe
• Fergus Martin
• Michael McGlynn
• Ronan Murray
• Pauric Sweeney, Fashion Designer^[20]
• Robert Ballagh
• Eden (Irish musician)

Clergy

• Emil August Allgeyer C.S.Sp., french born priest, first ordination in Blackrock in 1900, served in Trinidad and as a Bishop in Africa.
• John Cardinal D'Alton^[21]
• Eugene Joseph Butler C.S.Sp., Bishop of Zanzibar, and Bishop of Mombasa
• Robert Ellison B.Sc., S.T.L., C.S.Sp., Bishop of Banjui, Gambia.
• John Gerald Neville DD, C.S.Sp. 1858–1943, purchased Clareville for Blackrock, Bishop of Zanzibar, and Kenya, ordained a bishop in Blackrock in 1913.
• Ambrose Kelly C.S.Sp., Bishop of Freetown and Bo, Sierre Leone
• Daniel Liston BA, BCL, DD, C.S.Sp., Bishop of Port Louis in Mauritius (1947–1968).
• John Joseph McCarthy C.S.Sp., Bishop of Nairobi, Kenya.
• John Charles McQuaid (Archbishop of Dublin)
• Michael Joseph Moloney C.B.E., C.S.Sp.,(1912–1991) Bishop of Banjui, Gambia. Leinster Schools Rugby Cup winning Captain in 1928 and 1929.
• Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick
• John Joseph O'Gorman, C.S.Sp., first Bishop from the Irish Holy Ghost Fathers, first Bishop of Sierra Leone.
• John C. O'Riordan, C.S.Sp., Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kenema in Sierra Leone.
• Joseph Brendan Whelan, BA, S.T.L, C.S.Sp.(1909–1990), served as Bishop of Owerri in Nigeria

Sport

• Brian O'Driscoll was, since 2004, the captain of the Ireland national rugby union team. He attended Blackrock college from 1992 to 1998, where he first played rugby.^{[22] [23]}
• Nicolas Roche (professional cyclist)
• Leo Cullen^[24]
• Shane Byrne^[25]
• Victor Costello^[26] (Irish international rugby player and Olympic shot-putter)
• Hugo MacNeill
• Fergus Slattery (1970s rugby player, part of famous 1974 Lions Tour)
• Neil Francis^[27]
• Alain Rolland^[28] (Irish international rugby player and international rugby referee)
• Luke Fitzgerald^[29] (Irish international rugby player)
• Mark Vaughan (Dublin Gaelic Footballer)
• Cian O'Sullivan (Dublin Gaelic Footballer)
• Michael Darragh MacAuley (Dublin Gaelic Footballer)
• Ian Madigan (Irish international rugby player)
• Jason Harris-Wright (Leinster Rugby and Connacht Rugby professional rugby union player)
• David Quinlan (retired Irish international rugby player)
• Cillian Willis (Leinster Rugby player)
• Niall Brophy (one of the great Irish international rugby players of the 1950s and '60s)
• Brendan Mullin (Irish rugby international of the 1980s and '90s, and one of the country's greatest ever players)
• Jordi Murphy (Irish international rugby player)
• Brendan Macken (Leinster Rugby and Gloucester Rugby professional rugby union player)
• Andrew Conway (Leinster Rugby and Munster Rugby professional rugby union player)
• Denis Buckley (Connacht Rugby professional rugby union player)
• Niall Morris (rugby union) (Leinster Rugby and Leicester Tigers professional rugby union player)
• Ryle Nugent, RTÉ Rugby Commentator
• Michael Cusack, Founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association taught at the school
• Paul Dunne (golfer)
• Alan Lee (Irish international association football player)
• Garry Ringrose, (Leinster Rugby professional rugby union player)
• Joey Carbery (rugby union) Leinster and Ireland)
• Oliver Jager (rugby union) NZ Barbariens and Crusaders)
• Fionn Carr (rugby union and sevens) Ireland 7s and Connacht)
• Hugo Keenan (Ireland7s)
• Mark Roche (Ireland7s)
• Nick Timoney (rugby union and 7s) Ulster and Ireland 7s)
• Conor Oliver (Munster Rugby)
• John Quirke (Irish international rugby player 1962–1968)
• Peter Robb (Connacht Rugby)
• Tommy O'Brien (Leinster Rugby)
• David Pigot Jr. (first-class cricketer)
• Liam Turner (rugby union, Leinster rugby and Ireland U20s)
• Thomas Clarkson (rugby union, Leinster rugby and Ireland U20s)
• Paddy Patterson (rugby union, Leinster rugby)
• Gavin Mullin (rugby union, Leinster academy)

Entertainment

• Des Bishop,^[30] Comedian
• Craig Doyle, television presenter
• Dave Fanning, DJ, broadcaster
• Bob Geldof, musician, lead singer with The Boomtown Rats. Organiser of Live Aid concerts
• Frank Kelly, actor
• David McSavage, comedian
• Ardal O'Hanlon, comic actor
• Ryan Tubridy, broadcaster
• Conal Gallen, playwright, comedian, singer-songwriter
• Jonathon Ng, singer songwriter, known as EDEN

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Flann O'Brien. 16 March 2007. Taaffe. Carol. 20 September 2002. The Literary Encyclopedia. Robert Clark. The Literary Dictionary Company.
2. News: O'Conaire seventy-five years dead on Monday. Galway Advertiser. Advertiser Group. 2 October 2003. 16 March 2007.
3. News: Joe O'Connor recalls happy, rugby-less schooldays at Blackrock College . The Irish Times . 21 October 1997.
4. Man of Aran. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103091138/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,867003-1,00.html. dead. 3 November 2012. Time. Time. 4 June 1956. 16 March 2007.
5. Web site: Wroe . Nicholas . Paul Murray: 'How the banks got rich off poor people would be a painful read without comedy' . The Guardian . 11 July 2015.
6. News: Murray . Paddy . 'Things may be easing but the fear persists' . The Irish Times . 17 June 2020 . I also did a 5km charity walk. Of course I didn’t do it all in one go. But as it was organised by my old school, Blackrock College....
7. News: Paul. Nolan. David McWilliams: the interview. Hot Press. 2 February 2004. 15 March 2007.
8. News: Death of journalist and economist Paul Tansey . The Irish Times . 9 September 2008.
9. Web site: A College Miscellany: Paul Joseph Anthony Tansey, MA, MBA . 3 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809145315/http://acollegemiscellany.com/2008/09/paul-joseph-anthony-tansey-ma-mba.html . 9 August 2011 .
10. Quinn, Ruairi, Straight Left, Pg.34
11. News: Anne. Byrne. The Blackrock College story. The Irish Times – Education & Living. Irish Times Trust. 23 May 2000. 16 March 2007.
12. Book: Straight Left: A Journey in Politics. Ruairi Quinn. 2005. Dublin. Hodder Headline Ireland. 0-340-83296-7. 30.
13. News: Rock of Ages . Irish Independent . Ruaidhri . O'Connor . 20 January 2010.
14. News: Pat . Leahy . Life experience is the best qualification . . . 18 August 2002 . 15 March 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120532/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2002/08/18/story213731628.asp . 29 September 2007 .
15. Web site: An Ceann Comhairle – CV. 15 March 2007. Government of Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20110721130151/http://ceanncomhairle.oireachtas.ie/cv.asp. 21 July 2011. dead.
16. Web site: Councillor and former mayor for Galway West ward. Politician – CV . 5 August 2007 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070810000154/http://www.niallobrolchain.ie/about_niall.html . 10 August 2007 .
17. News: Fiona. Looney. Fr. Niall O'Brien. reprint. Sunday Tribune. Tribune Newspapers. 2 May 2003. 16 March 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070312080330/http://www.preda.org/archives/2004/r04050202.html . 12 March 2007.
18. Web site: UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research History . 2024-01-13 . www.ucd.ie.
19. Obituary, The Times, 3 May 1954
20. Web site: Penny. Gray. irish edge. 2002. 27 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070913002804/http://www.ivenus.com/fashion/features/DC-feature-Pauic_Sweeney-wk109.asp . 13 September 2007.
21. Craig. Millicent V.. John Cardinal D'Alton, The 100th Successor to St. Patrick. Daltons in History. 9. 3. The Dalton Genealogical Society. March 2006.
22. http://www.irishrugby.ie/226_165.php Player Profile
23. http://www.brianodriscoll.ie/about.html Personal website of Brian O'Driscoll
24. News: Dream Team with budding superstar on subs' bench. Irish Independent. 29 January 2003. 7 April 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20030330135010/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=97&si=908334&issue_id=8671. 30 March 2003. dead.
25. News: Shane Byrne. Irish Independent. 29 March 2003. 15 March 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20050101075406/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=944636&issue_id=8967. 1 January 2005. dead.
26. News: Victor Costello. Irish Independent. 29 March 2003. 7 April 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20050101075526/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=944722&issue_id=8967. 1 January 2005. dead.
27. News: Declan. McCormack. There's more to the Rock than rugby. Sunday Independent. 5 May 2002. 15 March 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20160128020722/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=37&si=746282&issue_id=7352&printer=1. 28 January 2016. dead.
28. News: Celtic League can lead to new rugby frontiers. Irish Independent. 19 September 2000. 7 April 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20010415180901/http://unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=37&si=278292&issue_id=3011. 15 April 2001. dead.
29. News: Nigel. Melville. O'Sullivan builds a side to last as old ground awaits the wrecking ball. Guardian Unlimited. 24 November 2006. 15 March 2007 . London.
30. News: Katherine . Blake . Did you hear the one about Des Bishop? . . . 5 October 1999 . 15 March 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111346/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/10/05/opinion_289.htm . 29 September 2007 .