Summerhill College

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 northwest Ireland.

Summerhill College
Coláiste Cnoic an tSamhraidh
Address
College Road

Sligo
,
County Sligo

Republic of Ireland
Information
TypeVoluntary secondary school
MottoEstote Factores Verbi
Established1857
FounderThe Most Reverend Laurence Gillooly, C.M., Bishop of Elphin
PatronThe Most Reverend Kevin Doran, DD, Bishop of Elphin
PrincipalMr. Paul Keogh
Teaching staff70
GenderMale
Enrollment900[1]
Colour(s)Navy Blue, Light Blue   
AthleticsSoccer, Gaelic games, Rugby union, Athletics, Basketball, Swimming, Surfing
NicknameBoys in Blue, The Hill
Websitehttp://www.summerhillcollege.ie

The old buildings of Summerhill College (now replaced by a new building programme)

History

The school was founded in 1857[2] by then-Bishop of Elphin, Dr 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 Roman 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 has a proud sporting tradition in soccer and Gaelic football. During the school year, soccer coaching is run in the school, with the assistance of Sligo Rovers F.C. It also offers many other sports to its students, including rugby union, basketball, athletics, swimming and surfing.

Notable staff

The Very Reverend 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
  • Rt. Rev. Thomas Finnegan (1966-1979), served as Bishop of Killala
  • Msgr. Austin McKeon (1987-1990)
  • Canon Kevin Earley (1990-1999)

21st Century
  • Thomas McManus(2009-2013)
  • Paul Keogh (2014-present)

Selected past pupils

Some of Summerhill's more well-known alumni:[9]

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,[10] but the Department of Education said later that same year that "the project will not be progressed further this year".[11] 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.[12][13]

Controversies

The school received a damning report from the Department of Education in May 2010.[14] 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.[15]

See also

References
  1. "School Detail - Summerhill College". Department of Education and Skills. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  2. Freeman's Journal, 8 July 1857
  3. "School History". Summerhill College. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  4. "Schools in Sligo providing the JCSP". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  5. "Schools in Sligo providing the LCVP". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  6. "Schools in Sligo providing the LCA". Second Level Support Service. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  7. "Nick Names". Archived from the original on 5 May 2017.
  8. "FR Cyril Haran played huge role in Sligo GAA circles: Priest also remembered as renowned scholar and teacher". The Sligo Champion. 1 July 2014.
  9. "School Alumni". Summerhill College. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  10. 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.
  11. Gray, Jim (24 September 2008). "Cutbacks put halt to 20m College project". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  12. "Minister Quinn Opens New School Building at Summerhill College, Sligo". Department of Education and Skills. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  13. Moran, Michael (15 August 2012). "New era for students at Summerhill". The Sligo Champion. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  14. "Sligo's Summerhill College Slated By Inspectors". Sligo Today. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  15. Clancy, Paddy (16 February 2013). "Principal 'ran school as he saw fit', court hears". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 February 2013.

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