St Conleth's College Explained

St. Conleth's College
Native Name:Coláiste Naomh Conléad
Motto:Fide et Fortitudine
Motto Translation:Latin for 'faith and courage'
Established:4 September 1939
Location:28 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Country:Ireland
Coordinates:53.3279°N -6.2407°W
Students:400
Principal:Donal Ó Dúlaing
Staff:25 full-time teachers
Homepage:stconleths.ie

St. Conleth's College is a private co-educational Catholic school in Ballsbridge, Dublin, founded on 4 September 1939 by Bernard Sheppard.[1] The current principal of the senior school is Donal Ó Dúlaing.[2]

History

The school was named after Conleth, (450-519AD), a sixth-century Irish monk who was a moulder of precious metals whose feast day is 4 May. The senior school has about 300 pupils and is co-educational. It has a teaching staff of 25. The junior school has about 160 pupils and is also co-educational.

In November 2017, the Kevin Kelleher Wing was opened, adding a performance room and study area on top of the gymnasium. Kelleher (1921-2016),[3] a former international rugby referee,[4] was the headmaster of the school for over 46 years.

Academics

The school was ranked first in the Irish fee-paying schools league table in 2003.[5]

Sport

Rugby is considered the primary sport of the school, and both Junior and Senior Cup Teams are represented in the Leinster Cups. Leinster Rugby focused on rugby in St. Conleth's in 2016 to recognise its successes that year.[6]

St. Conleth's won the Basketball Ireland National Cup and League double in 2009 at the U16 Boys B level. The school has also won several South Dublin Basketball League Championships, most recently in 2013.[7]

St. Conleth's offers fencing as a school sport for both boys and girls from a young age.

The school also offers hockey, tennis and athletics.

Debating

In 2014, three Conlethians represented Ireland at the World Schools Debating Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.[8] In 2019, St. Conleth's had two winners in the grand final of the Irish Times Debate, with Kevin Roche (representing the Kings Inns) winning the individual competition and Daniel Gilligan (representing TCD Hist Society) the team competition. Another former pupil, Conor White, was a finalist who did not win.[9]

Alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Family of St Conleth's College founder attend Cloughjordan talk. 2021-08-13. Nenagh Guardian. 14 February 2019 . en-US.
  2. Web site: Our School . 2021-08-13. St. Conleth's College.
  3. Kevin D. Kelleher (1921 - 2016)"Kevin Kelleher 1921-2016"
  4. Web site: Sonny Bill Williams becomes first All Black sent off for 50 years after shoulder charge on Lions' Anthony Watson. . 31 July 2017.
  5. News: Revealed: top schools league table. 17 August 2003. Irish Independent. 2009-09-27.
  6. Web site: 2016-05-08. School in Focus: St. Conleth's College. 2021-08-13. Leinster Rugby. en.
  7. Web site: Basketball . 2021-08-13. St. Conleth's College.
  8. Web site: Is public debating a fate worse than death?. 2021-08-13. www.irishtimes.com.
  9. Web site: Trinity students top at The Irish Times Debate grand final. 2021-08-13. www.irishtimes.com.