Summerhill College
| Summerhill College | |
|---|---|
| Coláiste Cnoic an tSamhraidh | |
| Location | |
| College Road Sligo , County Sligo 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 | Mixed |
| Enrollment | 1062[1] |
| Colours | 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) | |
Summerhill College (aka The College of the Immaculate Conception) is a Roman Catholic voluntary secondary school located in the town of Sligo in north-west Ireland.
History
The 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.
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
The 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
Summerhill College offers many sports to its students, including Gaelic football, soccer, rugby union, basketball, athletics, kayaking, sailing and surfing.
Notable staff
Cyril Haran taught English at the school and was known as "Cyrilly" or "Dosser".[7][8]
Presidents/principals of Summerhill College
19th century
John Lyster, later bishop of Achonry
20th century
- Thomas Finnegan (1966–1979), served as bishop of Killala
- Austin McKeon (1987–1990)
- Kevin Earley (1990–1999)
21st century
- Thomas McManus (2009–2014)
- Paul Keogh (2014–present)
Selected past pupils
Some of Summerhill's more well-known alumni:[9]
- Tabby Callaghan (b. 1981) — singer, finalist on The X Factor
- John Caulfield — football coach and former player, manager of Galway United
- 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) — Former 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
- Conán O'Donnell (b. 1996) — rugby player
- Patrick O'Dowd (1892–1968) — Fianna Fáil TD (Roscommon) and medical practitioner
- 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
In 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
The 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
References
- Back to citation "School Detail - Summerhill College". Department of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Back to citation Freeman's Journal, 8 July 1857
- Back to citation "School History". Summerhill College. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- Back to citation "Schools in Sligo providing the JCSP". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- Back to citation "Schools in Sligo providing the LCVP". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- Back to citation "Schools in Sligo providing the LCA". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- Back to citation "Nick Names". Archived from the original on 5 May 2017.
- Back to citation "FR Cyril Haran played huge role in Sligo GAA circles: Priest also remembered as renowned scholar and teacher". The Sligo Champion. 1 July 2014.
- Back to citation "Alumni Association – Past Pupils of the school". Summerhill College. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- Back to citation "Former classmates set to contest mayoralty". The Sligo Champion. 21 June 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2022 – via Irish Independent.
- Back to citation 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.
- Back to citation Gray, Jim (24 September 2008). "Cutbacks put halt to 20m College project". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
- Back to citation "Minister Quinn Opens New School Building at Summerhill College, Sligo". Department of Education. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Back to citation Moran, Michael (15 August 2012). "New era for students at Summerhill". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Back to citation "Sligo's Summerhill College Slated By Inspectors". Sligo Today. 31 May 2012.
- Back to citation Clancy, Paddy (16 February 2013). "Principal 'ran school as he saw fit', court hears". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 February 2013.