St. Benildus College

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St. Benildus College Coláiste Benildus


Motto	Secundum Verbum Tuum Latin for 'according to thy word'
Established	1966
Location	Kilmacud, Dublin 14, Ireland
Students	710
Principal	Seán Mulvihill
Religious order	De La Salle
Homepage	http://www.stbenilduscollege.com

St. Benildus College is a Catholic boys' secondary school in Kilmacud, Dublin, Ireland. It was established in 1966. As of 2005, 710 students were recorded as being current pupils at the school. Prospective students must pass an entrance test. It is located on the Upper Kilmacud Road. Most of the school's students live in the surrounding locality (Kilmacud, Dundrum, Goatstown, Stillorgan, Balally) but some live farther away (Stepaside, Glencullen and Ranelagh). The school is located in an area of south Dublin which largely comprised of farmland until the 1950's and 60's when the area became built up with housing estates. The green Luas line is adjacent to the school and the Kilmacud stop is at the back of the school. Students are encouraged to participate in sports including GAA, soccer, chess, badminton and athletics. The school has had much success in all of these sports, winning both Provincial and All Ireland honours in many. Rugby is now also played in the school. The school has a relatively good academic record and a higher than average percentage of its students go on to study at Third Level. Every year, transition year students run a show in the school hall. The show, which is run in conjunction with local girls school St. Raphaela's, attracts audiences of 200 people for each of the 5 nights of its run. It costs €10,000 to produce. The school also runs a GYM out of the school PE hall. It is open to members of the public on payment of an annual membership fee. Benildus students pay a reduced rate. Some facilities have been lost to the school in recent years. The construction of the Luas line led to the removal of "the woods" on the Balally side of the school where many generations of pupils went to smoke and fight. Smoking and fighting must now be conducted in the laneway near Rathmore Avenue. Many lasting friendships have been formed between boys who attended the school together and who remember their time their in a laregely positive way. A good deal of excellent teachers have taught at the school and have had a lasting influence on those who were taught by them, but some miserable, sarcastic, sadistic and violent teachers have taught there also.