Newbridge College

The Dominican College in Newbridge was founded in 1852 by Fr Dominic Walker and Fr Nicholas Freyne, who established the College as a result of the high and increasing demand for secondary Catholic education owing to Catholic emancipation in Ireland at the time. In its first year of establishment, Newbridge College had an enrolment of 50 students. A cap was placed on the number of pupils enrolled. In 1870 the second church on the grounds was built. The restriction was lifted in 1894 and the roll grew to 100 students.

In 1924, Junior House and the Clock Tower were constructed. 1941 saw the Senior Cup Team (SCT) win the Colleges' first Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup, trained by Fr Leahy, OP. In 1950, the Junior Cup Team (JCT) won the schools first Leinster Schools Junior Cup Final. Building began for Senior House in 1951. In 1952 the College marked its centenary, events to celebrate the milestone were attended by the President of Ireland Seán T. O'Kelly, Taoiseach Éamon de Valera, the Papal Nuncio, the Master of the Dominican Order and the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

The Newbridge College Past Pupils Union, which still exists today, was established by Dr JJ Cosgrove in 1937.

In 1956, with completion of Senior House and the refectory, there were almost 300 boys enrolled, 250 of whom were boarders. The third and current church was built in 1966, consecrated by Cardinal Michael Browne, OP. 1970 saw Newbridge win another Senior Cup, against Blackrock College, with a team trained by Fr John Heffernan, OP and captained by future Irish international Mick Quinn. In 1980 the bridge over the River Liffey was constructed, and the sports fields were moved from the quadrangle to the land across the Liffey.[4]

In 1984, one of the most significant changes in the schools' history took place – the admission of girls to the school for the first time. Today, approximately 50% of the school's pupils are female.

1992 marked the appointment of the first lay Principal of Newbridge College – Mr. Patrick O'Mahony – who made sweeping academic changes and oversaw big improvements in the facilities at the school until his retirement in 2006. His appointment came after responsibility for the management of the College had been transferred to the Board of Governors, composed of the Dominican Fathers, teachers, parents and past pupils. In 1992 formal classes on a Saturday also ceased, replaced with an extracurricular and academic study programme.

April 1994 saw the opening of the new gym block, science, art and technology suites behind Junior House by the Minister for Education. An all-weather pitch used for girls hockey was also built.

The practice of boarding came to an end in 1998, and the College became a fully coeducational day school. The option for day students to get evening tea and take part in supervised study until 9.30pm started, a practice which still takes places today. 1998 was also the year in which the first female School Captain, Tara Flanagan, was elected, and the first day student.

Newbridge College celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2002.[4]

In April 2008, a new €6 million euro extension to Junior House was completed, with new science laboratories, technical and computer rooms, a new staff room and a new social area.[5]

In 2013, an all-weather floodlit AstroTurf sports facility was commissioned at the cost of €1 million. It is used for rugby, hockey, running and other sports.

The College coat of arms bears two mottos. Veritas (Latin for 'Truth') is the motto of the Dominican Order. Cur me persequeris ('Why do you persecute me?') is the motto of the Eustace family, who donated the land upon which the school is built. The reference is to the legend of Saint Eustace, who, while out hunting, encountered a stag with a cross between his antlers (visible in the College's arms); the stag addressed the saint in the terms of the motto.

St Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of Newbridge College.[6]

There are a limited number of places available for first years. The 2015/2016 intake was 144. First year is generally three times oversubscribed, and it is not uncommon for there to be 500 or 600 applications. Prospective first years must sit an entrance exam and interview with the Principal before acceptance, and preference is given to those with relatives who have or are currently attending the school. The school awards two academic scholarships annually, on the basis of the results obtained in a scholarship examination. Music and sports scholarships have also been awarded.[14]

The fee per student for the 2017/2018 academic year is €4,225.

• Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup – 1941, 1970, 2020 (runners-up 1932, 1939, 1945, 1959, 1966, 1996)
• Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup – 2012
• Leinster Schools Junior Cup – 1950, 2020 (runners-up 1929, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1947, 1956, 1998, 2012)

• David Byrne – former Attorney General of Ireland, European Commissioner, Chancellor of Dublin City University (DCU)
• Noel Lemass – former Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State at the Department of Finance
• Michael Lynch, MMG – Irish Army officer, United Nations observer and recipient of the Military Medal for Gallantry

• Myles Lee – former Chief Executive of CRH plc, a FTSE 100 company
• Senator Feargal Quinn – entrepreneur who founded Superquinn, member of Seanad Éireann
• William Doyle – CEO of Newbridge Silverware
• Dr John Monahan, PhD – biochemist and founder of Avigen Inc in California, a NASDAQ-listed company

• Bishop Derek Byrne, SPS – Bishop of Primavera do Leste–Paranatinga, Brazil (2014-present), Bishop of Guiratinga, Brazil (2008-2014)

• Henry Flanagan – Irish Dominican priest, teacher, musician, artist and sculptor
• John Skehan – broadcaster
• Cyril Cusack – actor
• Christy Moore – folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist
• Dónal Lunny – folk musician and producer
• Luka Bloom – folk-rock singer-songwriter
• Barry Murphy – comedian
• Dave Allen – comedian
• Fintan Cullen – art historian
• Holt McCallany – actor
• Brendan Graham – songwriter and novelist

• Mick Quinn – former Irish rugby union player and coach
• Mick Doyle – former Irish rugby international and coach
• Robbie McGrath – former Irish rugby international scrum-half and member of the 1982 Triple Crown winning team
• Freddie McLennan – former Irish rugby international
• Fionn Carr – Connacht Rugby player
• Geordan Murphy – former Leicester Tigers and Irish rugby player, part of the British and Irish Lions squad in 2005
• Tony Buckley – Munster Rugby and Irish rugby player
• Johne Murphy – Munster rugby player
• John O'Sullivan – former Connacht, Munster and current SU Agen rugby player
• Bernard Jackman – former Leinster and Ireland rugby player, currently coach of FC Grenoble in the French Top 14
• Tom Grace – Honorary Treasurer for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)
• James Connolly – professional rugby union player for Connacht Rugby
• James Tracy – UCD and Leinster Rugby front-row
• Sam Coghlan Murray – UCD and Nottingham RFC rugby player
• Jimmy O'Brien – Ireland national rugby sevens team player
• Jamie Heaslip – former Leinster Rugby and Ireland rugby player

• Dermot Weld – Ireland's most successful racehorse trainer
• Aubrey Brabazon – horse racing jockey and Cheltenham winner
• Louise Quinn – Irish women's senior international soccer player
• Helen Kearney - Paralympic Dressage Rider and has won 3 Paralympic medals between the 2012 London Paralympics and 2016 Rio Paralympics