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 when free secondary education was introduced in the Republic of Ireland. 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 1950s 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 football, hurling, 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. There is a healthy rivalry between Benildus and local school Colaiste Éoin.

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 approx. € 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.

Further evidence of the college as a major sporting power is that they will be competing the Dublin Senior A football final in a few weeks.

[edit] Famous Alumni

Ray Cosgrove Dublin GAA footballer and former All-Star
Paudric McMahon, from Irish band The Thrills
David Gillick, twice European Indoor athletics gold medalist Madrid, 2005 Birmingham, 2007
Eamonn Cleary, entreprenuer - youngest ever entrant in Ireland's Top 100 rich list 2006
Richard Sadlier, former Irish soccer international
Maurice Pratt, successful businessman
Diarmaid Ferriter, historian and Author
Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Chairman Pensions Board
Fergal Bowers, RTÉ Health Correspondent
Paul Cunningham, RTÉ Environment Correspondent
David Kitt, singer/songwriter
Mark Keenan, Sunday Times Property Editor
Stephen Heaney, Wit and MAD magazine illustrator