Castleknock College

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Castleknock College (Coláiste Caisleán Cnucha in Irish) is a private (fee-paying) secondary school for boys situated in the residential suburb of Castleknock, 8 km west of the city centre in Dublin, Ireland.

Contents

[edit] History

The history of Castleknock College dates back to one hundred and seventy one years. In 1830, a year after the passing of Catholic Emancipation, priests from the Vincentian Community in Maynooth College obtained permission to open a day school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. On the 28th of August 1833 a day school at 24 Usher's Quay Dublin was opened.

So successful was the school that by 1835, St. Vincent's Boarding school was opened in Castleknock, catering for just 47 boys. Castleknock College's position at the forefront of Irish Catholic education was affirmed on 22nd April 1900, when Queen Victoria and her royal party visited the College.

Over the past 170 years, Castleknock College has evolved through additional building and refurbishment.However it today faces enormous financial difficulties, through an over ambitious building programme, and the majority of its staff are very close to pensionable age. Yet two centuries of history and a steel determination will ensure that 'Knockers' shall continue to function well into the next century.

[edit] Castleknock College today

In 1987, the College welcomed day pupils for the first time, and now no longer admits boarding pupils. It continues to be run by the Vincentian Community, though lay persons now comprise the majority of the teaching staff. Castleknock College draws pupils from all over Ireland and a number of foreign students. However the majority of students are from Leinster and the Dublin 15 area.

[edit] Academics

The college follows the Irish academic year and operates a six-year senior cycle of study, including a transition year following completion of the Junior Certificate year. The sixth year of study concludes with the Irish Leaving Certificate examinations.

The main timetable at Castleknock College operates on a five-day week basis. Class begins at 8:40am and finishes at 3:45pm (3:30pm Mondays, last three classes are shortened by five minutes respectively). Wednesday is an academic half day with classes finishing at 12:55pm. Prior to the 2000/01 term pupils had to attend classes until 12:30pm on a Saturday also.

A range of subjects are studied at senior level including Irish, Mathematics, English, French, German, Spanish, Art, Music, Accounting, Business, Economics, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Applied Mathematics and Technical Graphics.

[edit] Extra-Curricular activities

Castleknock College is a rugby union playing school and competes in the Leinster Schools' Senior and Junior Rugby Cup and Leagues. Presently the college has had eight Leinster Senior Cup victories. Castleknock holds the unfortunate record of having lost in more finals then any other school, at grand total of 14 losses in finals.

A range of co-curricular activities including sport, language clubs, debating and music are offered, with teachers and specialist coaches coordinating these activities. Both Wednesday afternoon and Saturday involve a range of sporting activities. In the field of debating the college has won the Irish Schools Debating Competition two times and been a finalist three times. The Leinster Final has been won three times and the college has been a finalist four times.

[edit] Grounds

The Castleknock College grounds are located in the suburb of Castleknock, beside the Phoenix Park. The college is easily accessible via the M50 ring road around Dublin.

The College grounds contain two hills, one of which is reputed to be the burial mound of Cumhal, father of Fionn mac Cumhail, a legendary Irish warrior. According to legend, Cumhal was interred here following his death at the Battle of Cnucha.

The second hill is topped with the remains of a Norman castle dating from the early thirteenth century. It is this castle which has given the name to the Castleknock district. The castle remains include less than half of the original keep, with portions of the walls of the bailey, enclosing a space of roughly 100 ft x 60 ft. The bailey is still surrounded on the north and west by the original fosses and earthen ramparts.

[edit] New Developments

In 2005 the administration of Castleknock College decided on a new development plan to renew the entire College. It is divided into three stages over a total of three years, with an expected cost of €16 m. Fundraising is to come from pastmen, the government and (the largest contributors) the parents of present students (Unfortunately, the response, while it has raised half a million euro, is less than expected).

Regulations prevent the workers from working during school hours, and are therefore confined to work on weekends, holidays with some exceptions.

Phase One will concentrate on connecting the MacNamara and Cregan House buildings, and has been underway since the start of 2006. The buildings will be linked by a connector building (Or "Link Building"), preventing traffic from moving from the main entrance to the car park. This three story building will become the central front door to the College, it will house three state-of-the-art science laboratories, new interactive classhalls, centralised communication and administration as well as disabled access to all floors.

During summer 2005, when the removal of "Sandy Row" began (Part of MacNamara House) damage was sustained to the school Chapel. The school was fortunate that it will be possible to repair, but all Masses and assemblies will be held in the Concert Hall as to speed up the repair for the Sixth Year Graduation Mass in May '06, and to avoid any danger to students and others.

Phase Two will commence twelve months later, concentrating on the expansion of Cregan House to allow for the development of arts, library and language facilities. It will also provide more classhall space, a concourse on each floor to provide easier passage between classes, a meeting area and so on. The removal of Dowley House will also take place during this stage. It was initially supposed to serve as a temporary building, for roughly twenty years, but it has continued to be used for over fifty, requiring repairs every twenty years in service at a large cost to the school. It is speculated that the car park will be enlarged over this area along with new pitches to go in place of the old building.

Phase Three will take place roughly an estimated twelve months after phase two, and will focus on new state of the art sports facilities, namely a new sports arena.

Artist's Impression of future developments:

Image:Developments clip image002 0002.jpg

Cregan House (Left), Link Building (Centre) and Chapel/MacNamara House (Right).

[edit] Alumni and the Castleknock College Union

In 1896 the Castleknock College Union was founded by the past men of the college as means to maintain the friendships made at school and further the Vincentian ideals of helping the poor. It was modelled closely on the old boys clubs of public schools in England. Castleknock can claim to have the oldest such society in Ireland. The main events held each year by the union are the annual dinner and Union Day. Union Day is the prize giving and sports day in the college and seen as a link between those attending the school and past pupils. It is always held on the second last Sunday before public examinations commence and is celebrated out doors, weather permitting. It is also seen as graduation day for the sixth years.

A selection of notable alumni are listed below:

[edit] See also

  • Lazarists Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians)

[edit] External links

  • Castleknock College - official Castleknock College website
  • College Union - official College Union website
  • [1] - development plan on the official Castleknock College website
  • Bebo - Castleknock College's Bebo portal
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