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St Michael's College, Dublin

{{short description|Primary and secondary school for boys, Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{multiple issues|

{{more citations needed|date=July 2014}}

{{primary sources|date=May 2008}}

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{{Infobox school

| type = Voluntary

| religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic

| name = St Michael's College

| native_name = Coláiste Naomh Mhíchíl

| latin_name =

| logo =

| seal_image =

| image = Stmichaelscrest.png

| alt =

| caption =

| motto = Quis ut deus

| motto_translation = Latin for 'Who is like unto God'

| location = Dublin

| address = Ailesbury Road

| country = Ireland

| coordinates = {{coord|53.320076|N|6.216562|W|type:landmark_region:IE|display=inline,title}}

| established = 1944

| sister_school = Blackrock College, St. Mary's College, Rockwell College, Templeogue College

| principal = Tim Kelleher
{{small|(2001-present)}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/st-michael-s-conveyor-belt-showing-no-signs-of-slowing-down-1.4143124|title = St Michael's conveyor belt showing no signs of slowing down| newspaper=The Irish Times }}

| years = Primary School and Secondary School

| colours = Sky blue, Navy {{color box|#66CCFF}}{{color box|navy}}

| free_label = Religious order

| free_text = Holy Ghost Fathers

|fees = €6,338.00 (2022/2023)

| homepage = [http://www.stmichaelscollege.com Official website]

}}

St Michael's College ({{langx|ga|Coláiste Naomh Mícheál}}) is a voluntary Catholic boys' school, with an associated primary school, located on Ailesbury Road in Dublin 4, Ireland. Founded in 1944 by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (The Spiritans) as a second feeder school along with Willow Park, it was initially a primary school to Blackrock College. The first eight pupils were transferred from Willow Park. The next September, 58 boys were enrolled. In 1952 the first secondary school pupils were admitted. Following expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, the school developed both a primary and secondary school. It has been extensively expanded, including the opening of a cafeteria, a sports pavilion, as well as new classrooms and a new gym.{{Cite web |title=Development Home |url=https://www.stmc.ie/development/development-home/index.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.stmc.ie}}

History

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2016}}

File:Ailesbury Road, Dublin, Ireland.jpg

=1950s and 1960s=

In 1952–53 St. Michael's had its first boys go into First Year, which became the origin of the senior school, which contained just eight pupils that first year. By 1963, the school was growing. For the first time a second First Year class was created. In 1967–68, the school started constructing a new wing, which included the assembly hall and swimming pool. From 1944 to 1968, St. Michael's had continued to be a junior school which had served as far as Second Year, but in 1968 it was decided that pupils would stay in St. Michael's until after the Intermediate Certificate (4th Year). In 1970–71, Archbishop John Charles McQuaid blessed and opened the new junior school and swimming pool. In December 1970, Seamus Galvin was appointed the first president (1970–1976), and this was the first time St Michael's officially became an independent school and community from Blackrock College.

=1970s and 1980s=

In 1972–73 the school started construction of the new library, classrooms and science rooms. In 1974–75 Archbishop Dermot Ryan opened the new buildings. In 1975, pupils from St. Michael's sat the Leaving Certificate for the first time. The following year, Cyril Sheedy became superior of St Michael's, Laurence McHugh was appointed principal of the junior school with Fr Flood{{who|date=August 2021}} appointed principal of the senior school.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

In 1982 Aidan Lehane was appointed principal of the senior school until 1991. Seamus Galvin became the first president of the Past Pupils' Union in 1986.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} In 1991 while the Senior Cup team were defeated in the final against Clongowes, the Junior Cup team won the first title against Clongowes.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} The following year (1991–92), Willie Bradley was appointed principal of the senior school.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} Mairéad Burke was appointed principal of the junior school 1992–93. Lehane was appointed manager of St Michael's later that same year. In 1993–94, St Michael's celebrated its Golden Jubilee.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

=1990s and 2000s=

Michael Duggan was appointed superior in 1995. In 1995–96 Mr. Len Howard was appointed Principal of the Senior School, with Mr. Noel Turley as Vice Principal and Fr. Lehane appointed as manager of the school. In 1997–98, Fr. Billy Cleary was appointed manager of the school. The start of the building of the new school began in 1998–99.

The following year Ms. Lorna Heslin was appointed Deputy Principal of the Junior School. In 2000–01 the new school building was opened. Fr. Pat Palmer dedicated the new college chapel, Cardinal Desmond Connell blessed the new building and President Mary McAleese visited the school. In 2001–02, Fr Bradley was appointed manager of the school. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited the school. The Junior Cup team defeated Castleknock in the final for a second Junior Cup title. In 2001–02 Tim Kelleher was appointed principal of the senior school and Sheila Murray as deputy principal.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

The following year, boards of management were set up for both the senior and junior schools. 2006–07 St Michael's won their first-ever Senior Cup and had a school record of 5 players playing for the Irish U-19s in the U-19s World Cup hosted in Belfast that summer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/st-michael-s-in-from-cold-schools-1.1293085|title = St Michael's in from cold Schools| newspaper=The Irish Times }}

Academics

The school was ranked ninth in Ireland in terms of the number of students who progressed to third level and by the types of institutions to which the students progressed.{{cite news|title = High School ranks top in State, says new league table|newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/high-school-ranks-top-in-state-says-new-league-table-1.713613|access-date=12 November 2018}}

Extra-curricular activities

Sports played include rugby, basketball and Gaelic sports.

=Rugby=

The school has a strong rugby playing tradition, having won the Leinster Schools Junior Cup six times: in 1991, 2002, 2012, 2017, 2019 and 2022 in addition to reaching 6 JCT finals in a row up to 2012. In addition to the run of finals 2007-2012 the school has also finished runners up in the Leinster Schools Junior Cup in 1986, 2000 and 2016. The school has won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup three times first in 2007,{{Cite news|last=Cummiskey|first=Gavin|title=St Michael's in from cold Schools|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/st-michael-s-in-from-cold-schools-1.1293085|access-date=2020-11-10|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} when Noel Reid kicked all six of the game's points, and again in 2012 when Dan Leavy captained the team beating Clongowes Wood College in the final.{{Cite web|title=Towering Leavy Michael's hero|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/towering-leavy-michaels-hero-26833784.html|access-date=2020-11-10|website=independent|language=en}} In 2019 the school won the cup for the third time, beating Gonzaga College.{{Cite news|title=St Michael's flex their muscles and overpower Gonzaga|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/st-michael-s-flex-their-muscles-and-overpower-gonzaga-1.4170646|access-date=2020-11-10|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In 2013, St Michael's reached the Senior Cup Final with captain Ross Molony but narrowly missed out on a second consecutive victory to Blackrock College. The school were runners-up in 1988, 1991, 2006 & 2010. The school participates in an U13s (now U14s) Cup rugby competition organised and played by Spiritian schools; Templeogue, St Mary's, Willow Park (Blackrock) and Rockwell colleges.

File:Rockleinster.jpg final at Lansdowne Road]]

In 2016 St Michael's has invested heavily in on site sporting facilities and has now astro-turf all weather training, astro-turf all-weather pitch and scrummaging areas, modern weights and a gym zone, in addition to a new sports pavilion housing modern changing facilities and showers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/schools-rugby/two-or-three-per-cent-of-each-year-go-professional-at-the-moment-how-one-school-has-become-irish-rugbys-biggest-production-line-36482484.html|title='Two or three per cent of each year go professional at the moment' - How one school has become Irish rugby's biggest production line|website=independent|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}} In addition St Michael's has a number of rugby pitches and training areas located on its Dublin 4 campus. It also has a large indoor basketball/football/training arena and an 18-metre indoor swimming pool. St Michael's senior school fields 18-21 rugby teams annually from U-14s right through to U-19s; its junior school houses a rugby nursery for boys aged from 4–12 years.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Simon Keogh (class of 1998), was a member of Senior Schools Cup sides for three years up to 1998 when he also captained the first XV. He has played professional rugby for many seasons having played with Leinster (2000–03), Harlequins (UK; playing 133 times between 2003 and 2009) and re-signing for Leinster in 2009 & 2010. He won a European Cup medal with Leinster in 2009 having won a European Shield medal with Quinns in 2004 where he scored the match winning try. Keogh has also represented Ireland at schools, u21, sevens and A levels. In 2011 he was a member of the Old Belvedere RFC 1st XV who won the All Ireland League Division 1 title.

Aidan Kearney (class of 1998 and member of the 1st XV that year), played a number of seasons professionally with Leinster (2003–04) and then Ulster. He represented Ireland at u19s and u21 levels winning an under 19 Rugby World Cup medal in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2018/11/13/ireland-under-19s-reunite-20-years-on-from-world-championship-success/|title=Ireland Under-19s Reunite 20 Years On From World Championship Success|date=2018-11-13|website=Irish Rugby|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-19}}

As of 2020, St Michael's has more than 20 past-pupils playing professional rugby, across Ireland, the UK, France and the USA.

On 2 November 2020, a record nine St. Michael's graduates played in Leinster Rugby's Pro14 win against Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun.{{Cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=John|title=Rhys Ruddock injury the only downside as Leinster continue Pro 14 run|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/rhys-ruddock-injury-the-only-downside-as-leinster-continue-pro-14-run-1.4398289|access-date=2020-11-10|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} This record of nine players in the matchday 23 was equaled in a European Rugby Champions Cup match against Northampton Saints in December 2020.{{Cite web|last=Doyle|first=Garry|title=Ringrose returns for Leinster and Harry wins battle of the Byrne brothers|url=https://www.the42.ie/leinster-team-northampton-saints-5304608-Dec2020/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The42|date=18 December 2020 |language=en}}

Former St. Michael's rugby coaches, Greg McWilliams{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/greg-mcwilliams-the-irishman-with-a-mission-to-make-us-rugby-better-1.3679842|title = Greg McWilliams: The Irishman with a mission to make US rugby better| newspaper=The Irish Times }} and Mark McDermott{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2019/russia-coach-mcdermott-aims-to-give-conway-and-co-another-scare-38549889.html|title=Russia coach McDermott aims to give Conway and Co another scare|date=October 2019 }}{{cite web| url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2019/from-russia-with-love-meet-the-irishman-helping-the-bears-prepare-for-opening-night-38514448.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190922104318/https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2019/from-russia-with-love-meet-the-irishman-helping-the-bears-prepare-for-opening-night-38514448.html| archive-date = 2019-09-22| title = From Russia with love – Meet the Irishman helping the Bears prepare for opening night - Independent.ie}} coached the USA Rugby and Russian national rugby team, respectively at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby honours

=GAA=

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2016}}

The school provides teams for boys in first and second year, and has entered the Leinster GAA Schools competition since 2008. The junior school also enters the Cumann na mBunscol GAA league, and they won the shield in 2014.

Notable past pupils

File:Killian_scott_2016_1.jpg

The arts

  • Robert Ballagh - painter{{Cite web|title='Top student' tells of delight|url=https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/top-student-tells-of-delight-30505191.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=independent|date=13 August 2014 |language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Healy|first=Yvonne|title=Robert Ballagh's school days set him against denominational education and marked his start in rock 'n' roll|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/robert-ballagh-s-school-days-set-him-against-denominational-education-and-marked-his-start-in-rock-n-roll-1.91481|access-date=2020-09-29|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://robertballagh.com/illustratedbiography.php|access-date=2020-09-29|title=robertballagh.com}}
  • Risteard Cooper – actor, comedian{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/st-michael-s-conveyor-belt-showing-no-signs-of-slowing-down-1.4143124|title=St Michael's conveyor belt showing no signs of slowing down|last=Thornley|first=Gerry|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}
  • Allen Leech – actor
  • Fergus Martin - artist
  • Peter McDonald - actor
  • David O'Doherty - comedian
  • Jason O'Mara - actor
  • Killian Scott - actor{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/great-scott-30150165.html|title=Great Scott!|last=Butler|first=Eoin|date=6 April 2014|work=Irish Independent|access-date=19 October 2019}}

Politics

File:Ruairi_Quinn,_circa_2002.jpg

Rugby union{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald.ie/sport/rugby/the-long-blue-conveyor-belt-36863357.html|title=The long blue conveyor belt|website=herald|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}

Cricket

Notable teachers

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070327164835/http://www.smcu.ie/new_site/index.html St. Michael's College Past Pupils Union]

{{Spiritan secondary schools in Ireland}}

{{Schools and colleges in County Dublin}}

{{Private schools in the Republic of Ireland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Michael's College, Dublin}}

Category:Boys' schools in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Secondary schools in Dublin (city)

Category:Private schools in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Catholic primary schools in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Spiritan schools

Category:Primary schools in South Dublin (county)

Category:Catholic secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Educational institutions established in 1944

Category:1944 establishments in Ireland