Summerhill College (aka The College of the Immaculate Conception) is a Roman Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys located in the town of Sligo in north-west Ireland.
| Summerhill College Coláiste Cnoic an tSamhraidh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
College Road , Ireland | |
| Information | |
| Type | Voluntary secondary school |
| Motto | Estote Factores Verbi |
| Established | 1857 |
| Founder | Laurence Gillooly |
| Patron | Kevin Doran |
| Principal | Paul Keogh |
| Teaching staff | 82 |
| Gender | Male |
| Enrollment | 1062[1] |
| Colour(s) | navy blue, light blue |
| Athletics | soccer, Gaelic games, rugby union, athletics, basketball, swimming, surfing |
| Nickname | Boys in Blue, The Hill |
| Website | http://www.summerhillcollege.ie |
 The old buildings of Summerhill College (now replaced by a new building programme) | |
History
editThe school was founded in 1857[2] by then-bishop of Elphin, Laurence Gillooly, in Summerhill, Athlone, County Roscommon (present-day County Westmeath). It moved to temporary accommodation in Sligo in 1880 (Quay Street) and to a new school building (the present site) in 1892. Although the official name of the school is the College of the Immaculate Conception, it has always been known locally as Summerhill or Summerhill College.[citation needed]
The college has been a diocesan college — historically an entry school for those wishing to train as priests for the Catholic diocese of Elphin. The college took in both boarders and day boys until the dormitories were closed in the 1980s due to economic circumstances.[3]
Curriculum
editThe school offers the traditional Junior and Leaving Certificate cycles to its pupils. It also provides other options such as Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP),[4] Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)[5] and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA).[6]
Extra-curricular activities, clubs and sport
editSummerhill College offers many sports to its students, including Gaelic football, soccer, rugby union, basketball, athletics, kayaking, sailing and surfing.
Notable staff
editCyril Haran taught English at the school and was known as "Cyrilly" or "Dosser".[7][8]
Presidents/principals of Summerhill College
edit19th century
editJohn Lyster, later bishop of Achonry
20th century
edit- Thomas Finnegan (1966–1979), served as bishop of Killala
- Austin McKeon (1987–1990)
- Kevin Earley (1990–1999)
21st century
edit- Thomas McManus(2009–2014)
- Paul Keogh (2014–present)
Selected past pupils
editSome of Summerhill's more well-known alumni:[9]
- Tabby Callaghan (b. 1981) — singer, finalist on The X Factor[citation needed]
- Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan — three of the four members of boy band Westlife
- Edward J. Flanagan (1886–1948) — founder of Boys Town orphanages in the US (the old gym in the school was named "Fr. Flanagan Hall" after him)
- Tommie Gorman (1956–2024) — Northern Ireland correspondent with Irish state broadcaster RTÉ
- Chris MacManus (b. 1973) — Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands–North-West[10]
- Ray MacSharry (b. 1938) — former Fianna Fáil TD, Tánaiste and European Commissioner
- Dermot Mannion (b. 1958) — former CEO of Aer Lingus
- John McCormack (1884–1945) — world-famous tenor
- Paul McGee (b. 1954) — former Republic of Ireland soccer international player[citation needed]
- Conán O'Donnell (b. 1996) — rugby player
- Patrick O'Dowd (1892–1968) — Fianna Fáil TD (Roscommon) and medical practitioner[citation needed]
- Michael O'Flanagan (1876–1942) — Irish Republican and Roman Catholic priest
- Albert Reynolds (1932–2014) — Fianna Fáil TD and Taoiseach
- Mark Scanlon (b. 1980) — professional cyclist, former World Junior Cycling Champion
New school building programme
editIn January 2006 it was announced that Summerhill was to get €20 million funding for a new school building. Work was due to begin in 2008,[11] but the Department of Education said later that same year that "the project will not be progressed further this year".[12] However, work finally began on the demolition of the 1970s building and construction of a new school in the summer of 2011. The new three-storey building opened its doors to new students in August 2012 at a reduced cost of €12.5M. There are over 40 new classrooms in the new building, with a new gym and hardcourt playing pitches opened in November 2012.[13][14]
Controversies
editThe school received a damning report from the Department of Education in May 2010.[15] The principal at the time of this inspection was Michael Murphy.
In February 2013 a trial in Sligo Circuit Court heard of alleged improper use of Department of Education funds by former school staff during 2008–09.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "School Detail - Summerhill College". Department of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ Freeman's Journal, 8 July 1857
- ^ "School History". Summerhill College. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Schools in Sligo providing the JCSP". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Schools in Sligo providing the LCVP". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Schools in Sligo providing the LCA". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Nick Names". Archived from the original on 5 May 2017.
- ^ "FR Cyril Haran played huge role in Sligo GAA circles: Priest also remembered as renowned scholar and teacher". The Sligo Champion. 1 July 2014.
- ^ "Alumni Association – Past Pupils of the school". Summerhill College. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Former classmates set to contest mayoralty". The Sligo Champion. 21 June 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2022 – via Irish Independent.
- ^ McLaughlin, Gerry (10 January 2006). "Summerhill gets €20 m new school". Sligo Weekender. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2006.
- ^ Gray, Jim (24 September 2008). "Cutbacks put halt to 20m College project". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
- ^ "Minister Quinn Opens New School Building at Summerhill College, Sligo". Department of Education. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ Moran, Michael (15 August 2012). "New era for students at Summerhill". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ "Sligo's Summerhill College Slated By Inspectors". Sligo Today. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ Clancy, Paddy (16 February 2013). "Principal 'ran school as he saw fit', court hears". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 February 2013.