Saint Cronan's Boys' National School

St. Cronan's BNS
Address
Vevay Road
Bray, County Wicklow
Ireland
Information
School type Primary
Motto Fios Feasa
Irish: Knowledge of Knowledge
Founded 1820
Principal Maeve Tierney
Staff c. 35
Grades First through sixth
Gender Male
Age range 6–13
Number of students 500 approx.
School colour(s) Blue, yellow
Athletics Gaelic football, hurling
Website www.stcronans.ie

Saint Cronan's Boys' National School (Irish: Scoil Chrónáin Naofa) is a national school located in Vevay Crescent, just off the Vevay Road in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. It is the oldest primary school in Bray, having been founded in 1820 as Bray Male School. The school is named in honour of Saint Cronan, whose feast day falls on 28 April.

There are currently about 500 boys in the school, aged from 6 to 13 years (first through sixth classes).

St. Cronan's new building, officially opened on 18 June 2001 by then Minister for Education, Dr Michael Woods.
Previous crest of St. Cronan's BNS, officially in use until the year 2000.

History

In 1820, a small number of cottages on Seapoint Road in Bray are believed to have been the site of the first Bray Male Parochial School. It opened on 20 July 1820 and the boys stayed in these premises until 1880. Due to increasing pupil numbers, Bray Male School moved from its original home on Seapoint Road to the Little Flower Hall beside the Holy Redeemer Church off the Main Street in Bray in October 1880. Bray Male School moved again in 1931; this time, the school found a new home in a new building on the Vevay Hill. The school also changed its name at this stage to St Cronan's. On 2 November 1999, St. Cronan's moved to a new building in Vevay Crescent. After the most recent move to the new school building in Vevay Crescent, Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh, a Gaelscoil, took up residence in the schoolhouse on the Vevay Hill.

Current activities

Curricular studies

As a national school, St. Cronan's follows the Primary School Curriculum (1999). The school has a Catholic ethos and prepares its students for the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. The school was also part of the Modern Languages Initiative until 2012,[1] and Spanish was taught in 5th and 6th classes.

Sports

St. Cronan's GAA jersey sponsored by Bray Lions Club.
St. Cronan's GAA
Scoil Chrónáin Naofa
County: Wicklow
Nickname: The Crows
Colours: Blue, yellow
Grounds: Páirc Chrónáin, Bray
Playing kits
Standard colours

St. Cronan's is an active participant in Gaelic games. The school has both Gaelic football and hurling teams which compete against the other schools in the Wicklow area. The school's Gaelic football team have been county champions four out of the last five years, and are current holders of the Coughlin Cup.[2] The school's team colours are blue, yellow, and white to match the school's uniform. Prior to the year 2000, the school's colours were red and white; this matched the colour of the previous school uniform.

St. Cronan's trophy cabinet.

Gaelic football honours

Hurling honours

Choral

St. Cronan's has a very active boys choir. As well as performing at many local events, the choir have performed in the National Concert Hall with the National Children's Choir, and have also performed for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, in Áras an Uachtaráin. In December 2004, the choir released an album entitled The Magic of Christmas, which included a guest appearance by legendary Irish singer, the late Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners.[3]

On 12 September 2008, St. Cronan's welcomed His Excellency Liu Biwei, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland. The St. Cronan's choir, along with some musicians from the senior classes in the school performed for the Ambassador and his diplomatic entourage.[4]

Charity

Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes ready for shipping.

In the run up to Christmas, students in sixth class take part in the Concern Christmas Fast. In the past, the school has also participated in Operation Christmas Child. This is a project organised by Samaritan's Purse, and involves children putting together a shoebox of simple gifts for distribution among children in desperate situations around the world.[5]

Other awards

St. Cronan's Eircom Junior Spider Website Award 2009.

Twinning

St. Cronan's is linked with Edgewood Elementary School in the state of Minnesota.[6] The school is also twinned with the parish of Ikanga, Kenya[7] and the parish of Bugisi, Tanzania.[8]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ MLPSI Spanish Schools MLPSI.com. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
  2. ↑ Coughlin Cup report Cumann na mBunscol. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
  3. ↑ The Magic of Christmas The Magic of Christmas album. Retrieved on 22-09-08.
  4. ↑ Mr Karl Ó Broin's 6th Class Website St Cronan's BNS mini-website. Retrieved on 21-09-08.
  5. ↑ Operation Christmas Child Samaritan's Purse. Retrieved on 18-02-08.
  6. ↑ US link StCronans.ie. Retrieved on 10-02-08.
  7. ↑ "Bray, Ikanga twinning". Catholic Deocese of Kitui. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Twin parish". Queen of Peace parish. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  9. ↑ Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh CúplaFocal.ie. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
  10. ↑ DiamondValley.ie. Retrieved on 19-02-16.
  11. ↑ Come on you Reds! CroNews. Published on 01-05-99. Retrieved on 11-02-08.
  12. ↑ Bray Endeavour Awards Bray Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 12-08-08.

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