Thornhill College

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Thornhill College is the major Roman Catholic girls grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland on the northern coast of the island of Ireland. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1886 and moved to Culmore in 1932. It moved into its new building in 2003. It has a student population of approximately 1500 and a staff of 100 teachers.

1 Motto
2 Alumni
3 Debating
4 School Song
5 External Link

[edit] Motto

The school motto is "Adveniat Regnum Tuum", meaning "Thy Kingdom Come".

[edit] Alumni

Famous alumni include Dana Rosemary Scallon, singer and former MEP, Nadine Coyle, member of girlband Girls Aloud and Roma Downey actress.

[edit] Debating

Thornhill College boasts a prominent Senior Debating Society, established in 1954. The team have reached a number of Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition finals and are known throughtout the school for wearing the exclusive gold stripe around the lapel of the debating blazer. This year, Thornhill are proud to have two teams in the semi-finals of this competition who will debate against each other on the 30th March 2007 in Belfast, this will go down in history for Thornhill College. The debating society has come to the fore in extra-cirricular activities in the last number of years. The society meets regularly to debate topical subjects and research up and coming competitions. The school also has an established Junior Debating Society who meet every Tuesday after school as part of the homework club. The seniors are paving the way for the promising junior debators, passing on their knowledge and providing a valuable opportunity for the younger students.

[edit] School Song

Thornhill college is rich with tradition and is one of the few schools in Northern Ireland to have its own song:

"Proudly waves the mercy banner,
Floating over Old Thornhill,
Tis the standard of our master,
and our well beloved queen,
theres a starry kingdom waiting,
And a royal crown on high.
For each victor in the conquest,
'neath that banner's azure shield,
for each victor in the conquest,
'neath that banner's azure shield.

As long as the Foyle goes singing to the sea,
Dear Alma Mater we'll be true to thee,
march we gaily down the golden years,
all through life until our harbour nears,
Thy honour's in our keeping,
wheresoever we may wend.
Adveniat Regnum Tuum,
our motto to the end,
Adveniat Regnum Tuum,
Our motto to the end.
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