St. Mary's College, Dublin

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Saint Mary's College C.S.Sp. (Congregatio Sancti Spiritus) is a Congregation of the Holy Spirit-run primary & secondary school located in Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1890 and briefly closed between 1916 & 1926.

Rugby is the major sport and the school colours are Blue and White

The current College President is Fr. John Flavin C.S.Sp. The Senior School Principal is Mr. Clive Byrne while the Junior School Principal is Ms. Mary O'Donnell.

The College Motto is 'Fidelitas in Ardius' - Latin for 'Faithfulness in Difficult Circumstances'

1 History
2 Recent Changes
3 Rugby
4 Notable Alumni
5 Sister Schools
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

St. Mary's opened in 1890 with only 34 students but this number increased to 115 by the end of that first school year. The College closed in July 1916 for a variety of reasons including mounting debts, lack of staff and the necessity to relocate Holy Ghost seminarians from war-torn Europe. Because of popular demand led by the then Archbishop of Dublin, St. Mary's reopened in 1926.

The College sports ground in Kenilworth Square was purchased in 1947. It was immediately levelled and seeded and was ready to be used in 1950. The college chapel was opened in 1955.

Between the years 1966 and 1968 the College went through a series of renovations which included a new gym, a new entrance to Rathmines Road and the Junior School extension. The new Scout Den, in Kennilworth Square, was opened in 1971 and the chapel was changed in 1975. In 1981 the new pavilion was opened in Kenilworth.

In 1989 a new Senior School wing was opened. In 1990 the College celebrated its centenary year. A further extension to the Senior School was completed in 1995 and the science laboratories were re-equipped. The gym was improved in the 1992 with the addition of a new weights room. In 1997 Kenilworth Square had its pitches improved, changing facilities increased and new fencing put in.

[edit] Recent Changes

At the turn of the new Millennium, the College launched an ambitious development programme to assist in improving the quality of services provided to students. The development plan included the construction of a new multi-purpose hall and gymnasium, known as the Fr. Barry Hall in honour of Fr. Frank Barry RIP, a long-serving member of the College community. The Fr. Barry Hall was opened in 2003 and has been used for a variety of College events including prize-giving, theatrical productions and seminars, as well as allowing the Physical Education programme to be improved.

In addition to the construction of the hall, the development plan included the construction of a new Senior School canteen, biology laboratory and technology facilities. The Junior School was also extensively refurbished.

[edit] Rugby

St. Mary's have produced 31 Schools' international players since 1975 - more than almost any other school - as well as several full international players such as Denis Hickie or Seamus Deering

The school has won the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup 5 times and a club - St. Mary's College RFC - was created by former pupils.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Kevin Barry - Irish Republican Martyr
Larry Gogan - Broadcaster
Fred Cogley - Broadcaster
Simon Burke - Executive Chairman, Superquinn
Eoin Ryan - MEP for Dublin
Michael Smurfit - Businessman

The former President and Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera taught in St. Mary's for a short time in 1915 while he was also a mathematics professor in Blackrock College.